[Carbapenems: take it when needed but leave it if you can].

Surveillance data and literature have shown a worldwide increase in infections with resistant bacteria, which has led to increased prescriptions of carbapenems, which in turn has led to increased carbapenem resistance. There is also an increasing use of carbapenems in the Netherlands, a county usually very conservative in antibiotic use. Carbapenem sparing strategies are essential in an attempt to prevent further rise of infections caused by carbapenem resistant bacteria. This article discusses carbapenem sparing strategies with old forgotten antibiotics and novel antibiotics from a Dutch perspective.