CARBAPENEM Meaning and
Definition
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Carbapenem is a type of antibiotic that belongs to the beta-lactam class of drugs. It is known for its broad-spectrum activity against various types of bacteria, making it an effective treatment option for serious infections caused by multi-drug resistant organisms.
Carbapenems are structurally similar to penicillins and cephalosporins, but they have a unique chemical structure that allows them to achieve greater stability and resistance to many commonly expressed bacterial enzymes that can inactivate other beta-lactam antibiotics. This stability and resistance enable carbapenems to effectively target and kill a wide range of bacterial strains, including those that are resistant to other antibiotics.
This class of antibiotics is typically administered intravenously due to poor oral bioavailability. Carbapenems are often reserved for severe or life-threatening infections and are commonly used as a last line of defense when other antibiotics have failed. They are particularly effective against Gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, as well as certain Gram-positive bacteria.
The use of carbapenems should be closely monitored due to the emergence and spread of carbapenem-resistant organisms, known as CRE. These organisms have developed enzymes called carbapenemases, which can break down carbapenem antibiotics and render them ineffective. The rise of carbapenem-resistant bacteria poses a significant public health threat and emphasizes the importance of judicious antibiotic use and infection control measures.
Common Misspellings for CARBAPENEM
- xarbapenem
- varbapenem
- farbapenem
- darbapenem
- czrbapenem
- csrbapenem
- cwrbapenem
- cqrbapenem
- caebapenem
- cadbapenem
- cafbapenem
- catbapenem
- ca5bapenem
- ca4bapenem
- carvapenem
- carnapenem
- carhapenem
- cargapenem
- carbzpenem
- carbspenem
Etymology of CARBAPENEM
The word "carbapenem" is derived from the combination of two components: "carba-" and "-penem".
1. "Carba-" comes from the chemical term "carbapenem", a subunit of this class of antibiotics. This term originated from "carba-" as a shortened form of carbapenam, and "penem" referring to the beta-lactam ring structure present in the molecular composition.
2. "-Penem" is derived from "penam", which is itself a modification of "penicillin". The term "penicillin" originates from the discovery of the antibiotic compound penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928 and is named after the Penicillium mold from which it was isolated.
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