Meropenem

Carbapenem antibiotic. Carbapenems are antibacterial agents (broad-spectrum antibiotics, reserve antibiotics), which are characterized by a broad anti-catabolic spectrum of activity in the Gram-positive and Gram-negative range. They belong to the reserve antibiotics and are approved for the treatment of severe infections in hospital patients. Carbapenems are not absorbed orally and must be administered parenterally. Imipenem is only administered in a fixed 1:1 combination with cilastatin (e.g. imipenem/cilastatin, meropenem). Cilastatin is an inhibitor of dihydropeptidase in the proximal renal tubules, otherwise imipenem in the kidneys is inactivated very effectively. Ertapenem is also cultivated by this enzyme so that ineffective metabolites appear in the urine. All representatives are resistant to most ß-lactamases.

Individual reports exist on hyperpigmentation of the skin with deposits of meropenem (Garval E et al. 2017)

Meronem®

1. Garval E et al (2017) Skin pigmentation induced by meropenem and levofloxacin. Ann Dermatol Venereol 144:793-798.
2. Gibson B (2019) A Brief Review of a New Antibiotic: Meropenem-vaborbactam. Sr Care Pharm 34:187-191.
3. Patzer JA et al (2007) High activity of meropenem against Gram-negative bacteria from a paediatric Intensive Care Unit, 2001-2005 Int J Antimicrob Agents 29: 285-288