Meropenem is more stable than imipenem to renal dehydropeptidase I and can be used as a monodrug. It is bactericidal against most grampositive and gramnegative, aerobic and anaerobic species. Compared to imipenem, meropenem is more active against pseudomonas aeuginosa, burkholderia cepacia and some multiresistant nosocomial gramnegative strains because it is less inductor of extended spectrum B lactamases but may favor resistance against other antibiotic groups by an efflux pump induction. Its systemicdistribution in the extracellular space includes the central nervous system and is most excreted by glomerular filtration. As meropenem is more soluble than imipenem, it can be administered in bolus.

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it rarely causes seizures, a frecuent effect observed with imipenem during tratment of bacterial meningitis in children. Other adverse reactions (local pain, pruritus and diarrhea) are as frecuent as described with imipenem