II. Indications

  1. See Carbapenem
  2. Avoid in Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter infections (inactive)
  3. Complicated Infections
    1. Community Acquired Pneumonia (limited activity)
    2. Diabetic Foot Infections
    3. Acute Intraabdominal and Pelvis Infections
    4. Complicated Skin and Soft Tissue Infections
    5. Complicated Urinary Tract Infections

III. Mechanism

IV. Dosing

  1. Administration
    1. Administer IV doses over 30 minutes (and do not combine with dextrose solutions)
    2. Dilute IM doses with Lidocaine (if not allergic)
    3. FDA approved duration up to 14 days IV and up to 7 days IM
  2. Adult (and age >12 years)
    1. Standard Dose: 1 g IM/IV every 24 hours (or 1 hour prior to surgical incision)
    2. Renal Dosing
      1. CrCl <30 ml/min: 500 mg IV every 24 hours
      2. Hemodialysis: 500 mg IV every 24 hours
        1. Give additional 150 mg after Dialysis if dose within 6 hours prior to Dialysis
    3. Child (3 months to 12 years)
      1. Dose: 15 mg/kg IV or IM every 12 hours (max total daily dose: 1 gram/day)

V. Drug Interactions

VI. Adverse Effects

VII. Safety

  1. Unknown safety in pregnancy
  2. Safe in Lactation

IX. References

  1. LiverTox (2017), accessed online 1/2/2023
    1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK548705/
  2. Hamilton (2020) Tarascon Pharmacopeia
  3. (2012) Presc Lett, Resource #231205, Comparison of CarbapenemAntibiotics
  4. Zhanel (2007) Drugs: 67(7): 1027-52 [PubMed]

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Related Studies

Cost: Medications

ertapenem (on 6/21/2023 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
ERTAPENEM 1 GRAM VIAL Generic $42.39 each

Ontology: ertapenem (C1120106)

Definition (NCI) A 1-beta-methyl carbapenem and broad-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotic with bactericidal property. Ertapenem binds to penicillin binding proteins (PBPs) located on the bacterial cell wall, in particular PBPs 2 and 3, thereby inhibiting the final transpeptidation step in the synthesis of peptidoglycan, an essential component of the bacterial cell wall. Inhibition results in a weakening and subsequent lysis of the cell wall leading to cell death of Gram-positive and Gram-negative aerobic and anaerobic pathogens. This agent is stable against hydrolysis by a variety of beta-lactamases, including penicillinases, cephalosporinases and extended-spectrum beta-lactamases.
Concepts Antibiotic (T195) , Organic Chemical (T109)
MSH C446479
SnomedCT 385574002, 396346003
LNC LP33356-4, MTHU016193
English (4R,5R,6S)-3-((3S,5S)-5-((3-carboxyphenyl)carbamoyl)pyrrolidin-3-yl)sulfanyl-6-(1-hydroxyethyl)-4-methyl-7-oxo-1-azabicyclo(3.2.0)hept-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid, ertapenem [Chemical/Ingredient], ertapenem, Ertapenem (product), Ertapenem (substance), Ertapenem, ERTAPENEM
Spanish ertapenem (producto), ertapenem (sustancia), ertapenem