meropenem + azithromycin

Meropenem + azithromycin is a combination antibiotic regimen consisting of a broad-spectrum carbapenem and a macrolide. Meropenem acts by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis through binding to penicillin-binding proteins, while azithromycin inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit. This combination is specifically being investigated for the treatment of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) typhoid fever caused by *Salmonella Typhi* in pediatric populations. XDR typhoid strains are resistant to first-line drugs, fluoroquinolones, and third-generation cephalosporins, leaving carbapenems and azithromycin as the primary remaining therapeutic options. The regimen is currently being evaluated in randomized controlled trials to determine if combination therapy reduces the time to defervescence and improves clinical outcomes compared to meropenem monotherapy.

Other names

meropenem and azithromycin combination