The in vitro antibacterial activity of DWP20418 (1R, 5S, 6S)-6-[1-(R)-Hydroxyethyl)-l-methyl-2-[(2S,4S)-2-(piperazinylcarbonyl)-1-(R)-hydroxyethyl)pyrrolidine-4-thio]carb apen-2-em-3-carboxylic acid), a new carbapenem antibiotic, was compared with those of imipenem (IPM) and meropenem (MEPM). DWP20418 was comparable or slightly more superior to MEPM against gram-positive bacteria, and it showed more potent activity to IPM against gram-negative bacteria. DWP20418 was particularly active against MRSA, and its $MIC_{90}$ of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus, low methicillin-resistant S. aureus and high methicillin-resistant S. aureus were 0.391, 25 and 50 ${mu}g/ml$, respectively. With a view of $MIC_{90}$, DWP20418 was comparable than the other carbapenems against P. aeruginosa and E. coli isolates. The activity of DWP20418 was not affected in the presence of $Mg^{2+},;Ca^{2+}$ or horse serum. But inoculum size and alterations in pH of medium affected its antibacterial activity. DWP20418 showed rapidly bactericidal activity within 1h, and regrowth was not observed even incubation of 24hrs at the concentrations near the MIC.