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Microbiology Q&A CLINICAL ANTIBIOTICS Meropenem Vaborbactam

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Meropenem+vaborbactam
Meropenem+vaborbactam is a powerful antibiotic combining meropenem, a carbapenem, with vaborbactam, a novel non-β-lactam β-lactamase inhibitor. It is used to treat infections caused by certain strains of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales, Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa [2]. Vaborbactam protects meropenem from degradation by targeting and inactivating certain serine β-lactamases (Ambler class B).
This medication is considered a Reserve antibiotic, meaning it is reserved for specific situations as a last resort due to the risk of emerging resistance. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends reserving this antibiotic for targeted treatment of severe infections caused by laboratory-confirmed Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales. It could also be considered for severe complicated urinary tract infections, intra-abdominal infections, and hospital-acquired pneumonia when other options are unsuitable. Empiric use, where the specific pathogen is unknown, is only recommended in very select cases of seriously ill patients, such as those with sepsis or septic shock, where a multidrug-resistant pathogen is suspected.
Meropenem+vaborbactam exhibits activity against a wide range of bacteria, including Gram-positive aerobic bacteria, Gram-negative aerobic bacteria, and anaerobic bacteria. Importantly, vaborbactam boosts meropenem's effectiveness against many multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria by inhibiting ESBLs, AmpC beta-lactamases, and Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases. However, it is crucial to understand that it is not effective against bacteria producing metallo-beta-lactamases (NDM, VIM, IMP) or Ambler class D carbapenemases like OXA-48.
The standard adult dosage is 4g (2g meropenem + 2g vaborbactam) administered intravenously every 8 hours. Importantly, this medication is currently not licensed for use in children or neonates.
While generally well-tolerated, with side effects similar to meropenem alone, meropenem+vaborbactam is notably less harmful to the kidneys compared to other antibiotics used for similar infections.
This information is sourced from the AWaRe antibiotics book by the World Health Organization. For further details, please refer to: https://iris.who.int/bitstream..../handle/10665/365135
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Disclaimer: This video is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment.

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