COMPARATIVE IN-VITRO ACTIVITY OF FUROPENEM AGAINST AEROBIC-BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM PEDIATRIC-PATIENTS

The in vitro activity of the oral penem furopenem (WY-49605, 545555, S UN5555, and ALP201) was tested against clinical bacteria isolated from pediatric patients. Furopenem was compared with clarithromycin, cefpo doxime, amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, cefaclor, cefixime, and cefuroxime. Furopenem demonstrated consistent activity against Escheri chia coli [minimum inhibitory concentration (MIG(90) = 1.0 mu g/ml)] K lebsiella pneumoniae (MIG(90)) = 2.0 mu g/ml, Salmonella enteriditis a nd Shigella spp. (MIG(90) = 1.0 mu g/ml), and P-lactamase-positive or -negative Haemophilus influenzae (MIG(90) = 1.0 mu g/ml) and Moraella catarrhalis (MIC(50) = 1.0 mu g/ml). Furopenem was also active against a number of the Gram-positive organisms tested including methicillin- susceptible Staphylococcus aureus and penicillin-susceptible Streptoco ccus pneumoniae. These results suggest a potential application for thi s agent in the treatment of children as outpatients.