A 55 year old woman is admitted to the hospital with febrile neutropenia following receipt of chemotherapy for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Her blood cultures are positive for an extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing (ESBL) strain of Escherichia coli, and she is currently receiving meropenem. Susceptibilities are pending.
In reflection on this case, a colleague asks you if there are any differences in spectrum of activity amongst the carbapenems.