Ertapenem: a new opportunity for outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy

Ertapenem is a parenteral carbapenem antimicrobial with pharmacological properties that allow it to be given once daily. This makes it a consideration for outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT). In comparison with information from the OPAT Outcomes Registry, ertapenem seems well suited for the types of infections and bacteria that are commonly treated with OPAT, plus it has additional activity against anaerobic bacteria. This added spectrum makes it possible to treat complicated skin/skin-structure, complicated intra-abdominal and pelvic infections with a single antibiotic instead of the multiple agents that have usually been required. Ertapenem is also comparable to other OPAT antimicrobials in terms of adverse effects and clinical outcomes. This antimicrobial can be given with any delivery model, although its stability when mixed is such that daily preparation or self-mixing systems need to be considered. Ertapenem should be added to the growing list of once-daily parenteral antibiotics that can be given to outpatients.