The invention refers to a method and a device for the phenotypic detection of carbapenemases and carbapenemase producers by adding a substrate of general formula A-(L)-M.sub.1-(X)Z, where M.sub.1 is a carbapenem backbone, A or Z is a quencher, the other one of the two, Z or A, is a fluorophore, L is an optional linker, X is an optional leaving group for linking Z to the carbapenem backbone, and Z is an optional leaving group, to a sample suspected of containing such carbapenemase producers and/or carbapenenmases. The invention further refers to a method for the phenotypic detection of resistant bacteria, in particular 3MRGN or 4MRGN, by releasing the enzymes of a bacterial culture into a lysate during lysis and then subjecting the lysate, as the sample to be analyzed, to an aforementioned method in order to phenotypically detect the presence of resistance-conferring carbapenemases.

The invention refers to a method and a device for the phenotypic detection of carbapenemases and carbapenemase producers by adding a substrate of general formula A-(L)-M.sub.1-(X)Z, where M.sub.1 is a carbapenem backbone, A or Z is a quencher, the other one of the two, Z or A, is a fluorophore, L is an optional linker, X is an optional leaving group for linking Z to the carbapenem backbone, and Z is an optional leaving group, to a sample suspected of containing such carbapenemase producers and/or carbapenenmases. The invention further refers to a method for the phenotypic detection of resistant bacteria, in particular 3MRGN or 4MRGN, by releasing the enzymes of a bacterial culture into a lysate during lysis and then subjecting the lysate, as the sample to be analyzed, to an aforementioned method in order to phenotypically detect the presence of resistance-conferring carbapenemases.

The present invention provides carbapenem compounds and pharmaceutical compositions useful in the treatment of bacterial infections, including drug resistant or multiple-drug resistant bacterial infections, and methods for treating such infections using such compounds and/or compositions. The invention includes administering an effective amount of a carbapenem compound or salt and/or prodrug thereof to a host in need of such a treatment.

The present invention provides carbapenem compounds and pharmaceutical compositions useful in the treatment of bacterial infections, including drug resistant or multiple-drug resistant bacterial infections, and methods for treating such infections using such compounds and/or compositions. The invention includes administering an effective amount of a carbapenem compound or salt and/or prodrug thereof to a host in need of such a treatment.

The present invention includes compositions, methods of making and using novel carbapenem compounds including active agents, compounds, antibacterial agents, pharmaceutically acceptable salts of C1-C1 di-substituted carbapenem compounds, C5 substituted carbapenem compounds, C6-C6 di-substituted carbapenem compounds and combinations thereof.

A dual-caged fluorogenic resorufin probe (CDA) has been developed that is stable under physiological condition with low background but becomes highly fluorescent upon ?-lactamase/esterase activation and further oxidation. The probes of the disclosure are advantageous for initial screening of broad-spectrum ?-lactam antibiotics resistance and carbapenem resistant pathogens at diagnosis. After a two-step filtration, the assay of the disclosure can report 10.sup.3 c.f.u./mL cephalosporin- and carbapenem-resistant bacteria in urine within 2 hours at room temperature.

A dual-caged fluorogenic resorufin probe (CDA) has been developed that is stable under physiological condition with low background but becomes highly fluorescent upon ?-lactamase/esterase activation and further oxidation. The probes of the disclosure are advantageous for initial screening of broad-spectrum ?-lactam antibiotics resistance and carbapenem resistant pathogens at diagnosis. After a two-step filtration, the assay of the disclosure can report 10.sup.3 c.f.u./mL cephalosporin- and carbapenem-resistant bacteria in urine within 2 hours at room temperature.

Caged luciferin-based probes become a luciferase substrate emitting bioluminescence upon ?-lactamase/esterase activation. The inclusion of a cephalosporin moiety renders the probe capable of being used for the detection of a wide-range of ?-lactamases and ?-lactamase-expressing bacteria. Embodiments of a rapid high-throughput assay for the identification of ?-lactamase-expressing bacteria is made possible by the use of such probes. In some embodiments the cephalosporin is substituted by a carbapenem moiety to generate carbapenem-caged luciferin carbapenem-cleavable probes capable of being used for the detection of a wide-range of carbapenem-expressing bacteria. Accordingly embodiments of a rapid high-throughput assay for the identification of carbapenem-expressing bacteria is made possible by the use of these probes.

Chromogenic or fluorescent carbapenems according to formula I, wherein Ar is a mono or disubstituted carbocyclic aromatic group or an optionally mono or disubstituted heterocyclic aromatic group, are useful compounds for the detection of bacterial carbapenemase. ##STR00001##

Chromogenic or fluorescent carbapenems according to formula I, wherein Ar is a mono or disubstituted carbocyclic aromatic group or an optionally mono or disubstituted heterocyclic aromatic group, are useful compounds for the detection of bacterial carbapenemase. ##STR00001##