Comparison of Carbapenams

General Recommendation

• All the carbapenems exhibit broad-spectrum coverage, but there are some differences. 
• Imipenem and meropenem exhibit similar activity and provide anti-pseudomonal coverage whereas ertapenem does not. 
• Ertapenem offers the advantage of once-daily dosing and an IM formulation, both of which are useful in outpatient and long-term care facility population. 
• Imipenem and meropenem have broader spectrums of action and more clinical utility (for empiric therapy in nosocomial infections and febrile neutropenia), and therefore should be the preferred agents in the hospital setting

Reference
http://www.upformulary.org/docs/Carbapenems_October_2007.pdf