Carbapenems | Community Health

Carbapenems are a class of broad-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotics used to treat severe bacterial infections, particularly those caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria. Developed from the naturally derived product thienamycin, carbapenems have a broader spectrum of activity compared to penicillins and cephalosporins. However, the increasing rates of resistance to carbapenems, such as [[carbapenem-resistant-enterobacteriaceae|carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae]] (CRE), have raised concerns about the limited therapeutic options available. According to the [[world-health-organization|World Health Organization]] (WHO), carbapenem-resistant bacteria are a major public health concern, with [[centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention|Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] (CDC) reporting over 9,000 cases of CRE in the United States in 2020. The development of new antibiotics, such as [[meropenem|meropenem]] and [[ertapenem|ertapenem]], has been crucial in combating these resistant bacteria.