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Ertapenem is a prescription carbapenem antibacterial medicine given by intravenous infusion or intramuscular injection. It treats selected moderate to severe bacterial infections in adults and children age 3 months and older. It is also used in adults to prevent surgical-site infection after elective colorectal surgery.
read more about ertapenem ...Ertapenem binds bacterial penicillin-binding proteins and inhibits cell wall synthesis. This produces bactericidal activity against susceptible aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Its antibacterial spectrum and resistance profile differ from other beta-lactam medicines, so treatment follows organism susceptibility and infection-specific labeling.
Current labeling includes complicated intra-abdominal infection, complicated skin and skin structure infection including diabetic foot infection without osteomyelitis, community-acquired pneumonia, complicated urinary tract infection including pyelonephritis, and acute pelvic infection. Adult labeling also includes prophylaxis of surgical-site infection after elective colorectal surgery.
Adults and patients age 13 and older commonly receive 1 g once daily by intravenous or intramuscular administration. Children age 3 months to 12 years receive 15 mg per kg twice daily, up to 1 g daily. Intravenous doses are infused over 30 minutes. Severe kidney impairment requires adult dose adjustment.
Serious concerns include anaphylaxis and other hypersensitivity reactions, seizures, Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea, and reduced valproic acid concentrations that can increase seizure risk. Severe beta-lactam anaphylaxis is a contraindication. Intramuscular administration also has lidocaine-related contraindications when lidocaine is used as the diluent.
Ertapenem is a carbapenem antibacterial medicine that inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis.
Adults and patients age 13 and older commonly receive 1 g once daily.
Yes. Current labeling includes pediatric patients age 3 months and older with weight-based dosing for younger children.
Yes. Ertapenem can lower valproic acid concentrations and increase the risk of breakthrough seizures.
Beta-Lactam Antibiotics. StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545311/. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.
DailyMed - ERTAPENEM (ertapenem sodium) injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=41304b1d-7db4-468a-ab1d-04e56fb50de4. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.
Ertapenem. PubChem. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/150610. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.
Ertapenem Injection. MedlinePlus. https://www.medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a614001.html. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.
INVANZ (ertapenem for injection) Prescribing Information. Merck. https://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/i/invanz/invanz_pi.pdf. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.