19/08/2026
ESBL does NOT automatically mean meropenem.
The first question to ask after seeing an ESBL-producing E. coli / Klebsiella is:
“Where is the infection?”
Because the treatment strategy for uUTI, cUTI and pneumonia/bacteremia can be completely different.
This is why simply looking at the susceptibility report and choosing the antibiotic marked “S” can be misleading.