Doripenem is a new member of the carbapenem class of beta-lactam antibiotics with broad-spectrum coverage of Gram-positive, Gram-negative and anaerobic pathogens similar to imipenem and, especially, meropenem. This parenteral antibiotic may offer slightly more activity than meropenem against selected pathogens, including coverage of some strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains not susceptible to the other antipseudomonal carbapenems. Empiric therapy with doripenem, as with other antipseudomonal carbapenems, may be useful in hospital and intensive care unit settings where multidrug resistance has emerged, especially in Gram-negative enteric pathogens. When P. aeruginosa or multidrug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or vancomycin-resistant enterococci are involved, doripenem must be used in combination. Doripenem has a broad spectrum of activity against many common hospital pathogens, including P. aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia, which is similar to meropenem.