In-vitro activity of new carbapenem antibiotics: comparative studies with meropenem, L-627 and imipenem against pathogenic Nocardia spp.

Abstract

MICs of two new carbapenems, meropenem and L-627, and imipenem were determined against 98 strains of the Nocardia asteroides group (i.e. N. asteroides sensu stricto, Nocardia far cinica and Nocardia nova), 46 strains of Nocardia brasilliensis and 17 strains of Nocardia otitidiscaviarum. Meropenem and L-627 were less active against the N. asteroides group than imipenem. Among the three species of the N. asteroides group, N. nova was the most sensitive to all the carbapenems. Meropenem was more active than imipenem against both N. brasilliensis and N. otitidiscaviarum with MIC₅₀ values of 28·3–53·3 mg/L. L-627 was less active than meropenem.