Meropenem is an ultra-broad spectrum injectable antibiotic used to treat a wide variety of infections, including meningitis and pneumonia. It is a beta-lactam and belongs to the subgroup carbapenem.

Meropenem was developed by Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals. It is marketed outside Japan by AstraZeneca with the brand names Merrem and Meronem.

Unlike imipenem, it is stable to renal dehydrogenase and can therefore be given without cilastatin. In penetrates into the cerebrospinal fluid.

Meropenem can be used interchangeably and is stable against kidney dihydropeptidase, therefore cilastin is not needed. Meropenem also has a reduced potential for causing seizures in comparison with imipenem

Carbapenem antibiotics