Which antibiotic has a spectrum that covers both gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens?

Carbapenems are a class of β-lactam antibiotics that exhibit a broad spectrum of activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. This makes them particularly valuable for treating serious infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms. Carbapenems, such as imipenem, meropenem, and ertapenem, are often used in hospital settings to manage infections that are resistant to other antibiotics.

One of the distinctive features of carbapenems is their effectiveness against a wide variety of pathogens, including many Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which are common gram-negative bacteria. Additionally, they also retain efficacy against several gram-positive organisms, although their primary use is in the context of serious infections where broad coverage is essential.

Other options, such as vancomycin and fidaxomicin, are primarily effective against specific groups of organisms. Vancomycin is mainly used for gram-positive infections, particularly those caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), while fidaxomicin is used primarily for Clostridium difficile infections with a narrow spectrum. Azithromycin, though it covers some gram-negative organisms, primarily acts against atypical pathogens and certain gram-positive bacteria, making its spectrum narrower compared