meropenem trihydrate + vaborbactam at a glance
Medicine class
Carbapenem antibiotic plus beta-lactamase inhibitor
How it is given
Infusion into a vein by a healthcare professional
Licensed population
Adults
Important limitation
Vaborbactam inhibits KPC and some other serine beta-lactamases, but not metallo-beta-lactamases such as NDM or VIM, or OXA-48
What is meropenem trihydrate + vaborbactam used for?
Licensed in adults for serious bacterial infections, including:
Complicated urinary tract infection, including kidney infection
Complicated infection within the abdomen
Hospital-acquired pneumonia, including ventilator-associated pneumonia
Bacteraemia associated with, or suspected to be associated with, these infections
Infections caused by aerobic Gram-negative organisms when treatment options are limited
How does meropenem trihydrate + vaborbactam work?
Meropenem kills susceptible bacteria by blocking construction of their protective cell wall. Vaborbactam has no useful antibacterial effect alone; it inhibits certain bacterial beta-lactamase enzymes, including KPC, that would otherwise break down meropenem.
How to take meropenem trihydrate + vaborbactam
It is given into a vein by a doctor or nurse. The powder must be reconstituted and diluted with sodium chloride solution before infusion; it is not for direct injection and is incompatible with glucose-containing solutions.
Food instructions do not apply because it is not swallowed.
Tell staff promptly if the infusion site becomes painful, red or swollen.
meropenem trihydrate + vaborbactam side effects
Common or expected effects
- Headache
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fever
- Low blood pressure
- Pain, redness or inflammation at the infusion site
- Changes in liver enzymes, platelets, potassium or blood glucose detected by tests
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic reaction or severe skin reaction
- Persistent, worsening, bloody or mucus-containing diarrhoea
- Seizure
- Signs of liver injury, such as jaundice or dark urine
- Unexplained muscle pain, weakness or tenderness with dark urine
meropenem trihydrate + vaborbactam in pregnancy
Human pregnancy data for this combination are limited, and the UK product information advises avoiding it as a precaution. A specialist should balance this uncertainty against the need to treat a serious infection; prescribed treatment should not be stopped without medical advice.
meropenem trihydrate + vaborbactam while breastfeeding
Meropenem passes into human milk, while it is unknown whether vaborbactam does. The UK product information requires breastfeeding to be discontinued before treatment; discuss expressing milk and alternative feeding with the clinical team.
meropenem trihydrate + vaborbactam interactions
Give the clinical team a complete medicines list. Important interactions include:
Valproic acid, sodium valproate or valpromide
Carbapenems can sharply reduce valproate concentrations and cause loss of seizure control; concurrent use should generally be avoided or specialist anticonvulsant management arranged.
Probenecid
May reduce renal elimination and raise meropenem and vaborbactam concentrations; co-administration is not recommended.
Warfarin and other oral anticoagulants
Anticoagulant effect may change, so closer INR monitoring may be required during and shortly after treatment.
Common questions about meropenem trihydrate + vaborbactam
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is meropenem trihydrate + vaborbactam a penicillin?
No. Meropenem is a carbapenem beta-lactam antibiotic, combined with the beta-lactamase inhibitor vaborbactam.
Why are meropenem trihydrate and vaborbactam combined?
Vaborbactam blocks certain bacterial enzymes that can destroy meropenem, helping restore meropenem activity against susceptible resistant bacteria.
Does meropenem trihydrate + vaborbactam work against NDM-producing bacteria?
No. Vaborbactam does not inhibit metallo-beta-lactamases such as NDM or VIM.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.