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, SUN5555, and ALP201) was tested against clinical bacteria isolated from pediatric patients. Furopenem was compared with clarithromycin, cefpodoxime, amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, cefaclor, cefixime, and cefuroxime. Furopenem demonstrated consistent activity against Escherichia coli [minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC90) = 1.0 microgram/ml)] Klebsiella pneumoniae (MIC90 = 2.0 micrograms/ml), Salmonella enteriditis and Shigella spp. (MIC90 = 1.0 microgram/ml), and beta-lactamase-positive or -negative Haemophilus influenzae (MIC90 = 1.0 microgram/ml) and Moraella catarrhalis (MIC90 = 1.0 microgram/ml). Furopenem was also active against a number of the Gram-positive organisms tested including methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus and penicillin-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae. These results suggest a potential application for this agent in the treatment of children as outpatients.