THE COMPARATIVE INHIBITORY AND BACTERICIDAL ACTIVITIES OF MEROPENEM AND IMIPENEM AGAINST ACINETOBACTER SPP AND ENTEROBACTERIACEAE RESISTANTTO 2ND GENERATION CEPHALOSPORINS

The inhibitory and bactericidal activities of meropenem and imipenem w ere compared using Acinetobacter spp. and Enterobacteriaceae resistant to second generation cephalosporins. The inhibitory activity of both agents was similar for Acinetobacter spp. but meropenem was more activ e against the Enterobacteriaceae. Bactericidal activities were compare d employing time kill curves which indicated meropenem was more bacter icidal than imipenem against Enterobacteriaceae at pharmacologically a chievable concentrations while imipenem was more bactericidal than mer openem against Acinetobacter spp.