Short description
Carbapenem is an antibiotic of last resort that is used when other antibiotics fail.
Detailed description
It is a member of the beta-lactam class of antibiotics and is, in emergencies, administered to treat multidrug-resistant pathogens. It prevents synthesis of the bacterial cell wall; as a consequence, bacteria dissolve and die. However, more and more bacteria possess an enzyme that renders carbapenems ineffective.
