Tag: Antimicrobial stewardship

According to the World Health Organization, carbapenems, including meropenem, are categorized as "critically important" antimicrobials, highlighting their reserved status in medicine. We delve into the specifics of why and when **is meropenem a last resort antibiotic**, and the critical implications for global health.

Meropenem is a powerful, broad-spectrum carbapenem antibiotic used for serious bacterial infections. While it does provide coverage against methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), its use must be carefully considered because more targeted and narrower-spectrum agents are typically preferred for treating this specific pathogen.

In a 2024 study, the combination of ceftazidime/avibactam plus meropenem showed remarkable synergistic activity against carbapenem-resistant *Klebsiella pneumoniae*. This specific, advanced combination therapy addresses the critical question: **Can ceftazidime and meropenem be given together?**

Over 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur in the U.S. each year, underscoring the serious global health crisis of antimicrobial resistance. When a conventional course of antibiotics fails, a multi-faceted medical strategy is required to address the infection, prompting the question: what can they do if antibiotics don't work?.

Infections caused by Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) are a major global health threat, contributing to high morbidity and mortality rates. A critical question for clinicians is, "Is meropenem good for Klebsiella pneumoniae?" The answer is complex, as its effectiveness depends heavily on the strain's susceptibility to this specific antibiotic.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), improving antibiotic selection for common conditions is a key initiative to combat antibiotic resistance. When treating a bacterial infection, healthcare providers rely on established protocols that designate what is a first line antibiotic to ensure effective treatment and preserve the potency of more advanced drugs.

While the FDA label for Bactrim (trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole) lists *Morganella morganii* as a susceptible organism for treating urinary tract infections, recent studies indicate that widespread antibiotic resistance makes empiric use highly unreliable. Clinicians must rely on modern antimicrobial susceptibility testing to guide treatment decisions for *Morganella morganii* infections.

It's estimated that more than 25% of broad-spectrum antibiotics are prescribed for viral infections, for which they are ineffective. This history of inappropriate use is a key reason why you may notice doctors are now reluctant to prescribe Z pack, a specific prepackaged dose of the antibiotic azithromycin.

With the rise of digital health, more than 52.7 million Medicare users turned to telehealth in 2020 alone, and a common question has emerged: **Can I be prescribed antibiotics via telehealth?** The short answer is yes, but only after a proper medical evaluation to determine if an antibiotic is appropriate for your specific condition.

According to the CDC, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) have been labeled as "nightmare bacteria," responsible for a 50% mortality rate in patients with bloodstream infections. This stark reality underscores the critical question: **Why is carbapenem a last resort?**