Cilastatin is a chemical compound which inhibits the human enzyme dehydropeptidase.Dehydropeptidase is an enzyme found in the kidney and is responsible for degrading the antibiotic imipenem. Cilastatin can therefore be combined intravenously with imipenem in order to protect it from dehydropeptidase and prolong its antibacterial effect. Imipenem alone is an effective antibiotic and can be given without the cilastatin.
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