Development status: Approved, off-patent

Gram-negative activity

Mechanism of Action/Target pathogen: Binds to bacterial penicillin-binding proteins (PBP) and interferes with bacterial cell wall integrity and synthesis. Carbapenems bind to all PBPs, with PBP2 and PBP4 as the highest-affinity targets. Ertapenem is mainly active against Enterobacteriaceae and has a longer half life than othe carbapenems

Additional information: Semisynthetic, derived from thienamycin. Longer half live