Carbapenems are in the beta-lactam family of antibiotics, just like penicillins and cephalosporins.

Carbapenems are the super soldiers, excellent at attacking bacterial infections. They are so effective that we don’t often use them, keeping them for only the most severe infections, and infections with the highest levels of antibiotic resistance.

Unfortunately, certain bacteria have acquired the ability to destroy beta-lactam antibiotics, thereby rendering those organisms resistant to penicillins, cephalosporins and carbapenems.