Beta-lactamase stability and inhibitory activity of meropenem combined with a potent antibacterial activity.

The affinity of meropenem for various known types of beta-lactamases and its stability to them were tested in comparison with other beta-lactams, including imipenem. Meropenem exhibited a marked stability to all beta-lactamases tested and was only hydrolyzed by Xanthomonas maltophilia beta-lactamase, as were other beta-lactams. This was responsible for the potent antibacterial activities of meropenem against beta-lactamase-producing strains. Meropenem and imipenem had almost the same, relatively high affinity for beta-lactamases; however, they had a lower affinity than clavulanic acid for penicillin beta-lactamases and cefoxitin for cephalosporin beta-lactamases. Meropenem also had higher beta-lactamase inhibitory activity than imipenem. Meropenem inhibited type III (TEM-1), Ia Citrobacter freundii and Ic Proteus vulgaris beta-lactamases in a progressive manner. Meropenem was thought to be a potent inhibitor of various beta-lactamase because of its ability to form stable enzyme-meropenem acyl-complexes. Meropenem generally exhibited a lower induction potential than imipenem against five clinical isolates of C. freundii, Enterobacter cloacae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but its induction potential was higher than that of ceftazidime. Meropenem induced beta-lactamases at concentrations above the MIC.