Basic and clinical studies on biapenem in respiratory infections

We performed basic and clinical studies on biapenem (BIPM), a new parenteral carbapenem antibiotic, following results were obtained. 1. Antimicrobial activity: The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of BIPM against a total of 283 clinically isolated strains of 12 species were measured and compared with those of one carbapenem (imipenem), and four cephalosporins (ceftazidime, cefzonam, ceftizoxime, cefotiam) using the MIC-2000 system (Dynatech Laboratories). BIPM showed stronger bactericidal activity than other four cephalosporin antibiotics against grampositive bacteria and gram-negative bacteria, stronger bactericidal activity than imipenem against gram-negative bacteria but equal strong bactericidal activity against gram-positive bacteria. BIPM had wide bactericidal activity against these clinically isolated strains except methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. 2. Clinical study results: BIPM was administered to 8 patients (pneumonia 3, lung abscess 1, pyothorax 1, chronic bronchitis 1, tonsilitis 1, urinary tract infection 1) in a daily of 300mg∼600mg for 4∼15 days by drip infusion. Clinical response was excellent in 3 patients and good in 4 of the 7 cases available for evaluation. Neither adverse reaction nor abnormal laboratory change were observed. From the above results, we consider that BIPM to be useful antibiotics for the treatment of bacterial respiratory tract infections.