In-vitro activity of Sch 34343, a new penam, against gram-positive isolates from cancer patients.

The in-vitro activity of Sch 34343, a new penam antibiotic, was tested against 257 Gram-positive isolates from cancer patients, and compared with that of imipenem and amifloxacin. Sch 34343 was extremely active against beta-haemolytic streptococci (Lancefield groups A, B and G) with MIC90s ranging from 0.025 to 0.05 mg/l. It was also active against methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus and had variable activity against coagulase-negative staphylococci. MIC90 for Listeria monocytogenes was 0.78 mg/l and 84% of enterococcal isolates were inhibited by 6.25 mg/l.