About Invanz

Invanz is an injectible beta lactam antibiotic drug prescribed to treat moderate to severe bacterial infections of the skin, lungs, stomach, pelvis, and urinary tract. These may include pneumonia, skin or soft tissue abscess, kidney infections, or for the prevention of surgical site infection after colorectal surgery and other procedures that are performed in areas most susceptible to bacteria.

How Invanz Works on Bacteria

When administered either into a vein or muscle, Invanz binds to a certain enzyme that the bacteria need to create a cell wall. Without a structurally sound cell wall, the bacteria will be unable to grow and multiply so they die off and the infection will clear up. Your physician or other healthcare worker can instruct you on the proper way to administer Invanz intra-muscularly once a day at home so you are not inconvenienced with daily trips to the clinic or hospital.

Conditions Treated by Invanz

Your doctor may prescribe Invanz to treat urinary tract infections such as pyelonephritis, diabetic foot infections of the skin and soft tissue, or acute gynecological infections. Your doctor or surgeon may recommend Invanz (Ertapenum) as a pre-operative measure to help prevent a surgical site infection, or SSI, especially if the surgery involves your colon or rectal area. An SSI can occur as a result of the suture site being unclean, dealing with an organ that is infected or has burst and the contents have leaked into another area, or the surgical area itself has known bacteria that live on the skin and they find their way in through the sutures.

Before an Invanz Injection is Administered

Before using Invanz, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, a seizure disorder such as epilepsy, a history of head injury or brain tumor, or if you are allergic to numbing medicine such as Lidocaine or Novocain. List all current OTC and prescription meds and include homeopathic remedies and dietary or vitamin supplements to be certain there are no adverse reactions with Invanz. Ask your doctor if Invanz is safe to inject while you are pregnant, trying to conceive, or if you are breast feeding.

Proper Use of Invanz

Discuss other medical conditions you have that may interfere with how Invanz works in your body. Check that the vial of Invanz is clear before administering and the syringes and needles are disposed of properly. Your local pharmacy can provide you with a ‘sharps’ container for disposal of vials and needles that can be returned for an empty one if needed.

Continue to use this medication until the full prescribed treatment period is finished, even if symptoms disappear after a few days. Stopping the medication too early may allow bacteria to continue to grow which could result in a mutation that can cause Invanz to be useless against this bacteria.

Possible Side Effects of Invanz

• Diarrhea
• Skin discoloration
• Nausea
• Pain or redness at the injection site

Drugs Similar to Invanz

• Merrem
• Primaxin
• Septra