Ertapenem: a review of its use in the management of bacterial infections.

Article Details

Citation

Curran M, Simpson D, Perry C

Ertapenem: a review of its use in the management of bacterial infections.

Drugs. 2003;63(17):1855-78. doi: 10.2165/00003495-200363170-00006.

PubMed ID
12921489 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

Ertapenem, a carbapenem antibacterial, has in vitro activity against many Gram- negative (including Enterobacteriaceae) and Gram-positive aerobic and anaerobic bacteria that are commonly associated with various infections.Once-daily parenteral (intravenous or intramuscular) ertapenem 1g was as effective as comparator antimicrobial agents (piperacillin/tazobactam or ceftriaxone +/- metronidazole) in patients with bacterial infections in randomised, double-blind, multicentre clinical trials. Response rates with ertapenem were 84% and 87% (combined microbiological and clinical) in patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections (CIAI), 82% (clinical) in patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections (CSSSI), 86% and 92% (microbiological) in patients with complicated urinary tract infections (CUTI), 92% (clinical) in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) associated with typical pathogens and 94% (clinical) in patients with acute pelvic infection. Respective response rates were statistically equivalent to those with comparators (81-94%). The efficacy of ertapenem was equivalent to that of piperacillin/tazobactam in patients infected with Enterobacteriaceae or anaerobes and to ceftriaxone in patients infected with Enterobacteriaceae. Ertapenem was generally well tolerated by patients with bacterial infections, with most adverse events being mild to moderate in severity. The most common ertapenem-associated adverse events were diarrhoea, infused vein complication, nausea, headache, vaginitis in females, phlebitis and/or thrombophlebitis and vomiting. CONCLUSION: Ertapenem is a broad-spectrum parenteral antibiotic with activity against many Gram-negative (including Enterobacteriaceae) and Gram-positive aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and is suitable for once-daily administration. Ertapenem has a role in the treatment of CAP associated with typical respiratory pathogens and is of particular value in the treatment of polymicrobial infections (such as CIAI, CSSSI, CUTI and acute pelvic infections), especially where Enterobacteriaceae and anaerobic bacteria are involved.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drugs
Drug Targets
DrugTargetKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
ErtapenemD-alanyl-D-alanine carboxypeptidase DacBProteinEscherichia coli (strain K12)
Yes
Inhibitor
Details
ErtapenemD-alanyl-D-alanine carboxypeptidase DacCProteinEscherichia coli (strain K12)
Yes
Inhibitor
Details
ErtapenemPenicillin-binding protein 1AProteinEscherichia coli (strain K12)
Yes
Inhibitor
Details
ErtapenemPenicillin-binding protein 1BProteinEscherichia coli (strain K12)
Yes
Inhibitor
Details
ErtapenemPenicillin-binding protein 2ProteinEscherichia coli (strain K12)
Yes
Inhibitor
Details
ErtapenemPeptidoglycan synthase FtsIProteinHaemophilus influenzae (strain ATCC 51907 / DSM 11121 / KW20 / Rd)
Yes
Inhibitor
Details
ErtapenemPeptidoglycan synthase FtsIProteinEscherichia coli (strain K12)
Yes
Inhibitor
Details
Drug Reactions
Reaction
Details