Antibacterial activity of the new carbapenem meropenem (SM-7338) against clinical isolates.

The in vitro antibacterial activity of the new carbapenem antibiotic meropenem (SM-7338) against 567 clinical isolates was evaluated. SM-7338 exhibited activity against a broad spectrum of organisms, including aerobes and anaerobes, and was superior to the other beta-lactam drugs tested (piperacillin, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefoxitin). SM-7338 was more active than imipenem, gentamicin and amikacin against Enterobacter cloacae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. SM-7338 was less potent than imipenem against staphylococci and enterococci, but the activity of the two antibiotics against anaerobes was similar. SM-7338 and imipenem showed a high bactericidal activity at a concentration of 2-4 x MIC.