C I Bustamante

Postantibiotic effect of imipenem on Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Imipenem (formerly N-formimidoyl thienamycin) and ceftazidime were investigated for their postantibiotic effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Four strains of P. aeruginosa in the logarithmic phase of growth were exposed for 1 and 2 h to concentrations of antibiotics achievable in human serum. Recovery periods of test cultures were evaluated after dilution or addition of beta-lactamase. A consistent postantibiotic effect against all strains was obtained with imipenem but not with ceftazidime. Although ceftazidime did not have a postantibiotic effect, it did suppress the growth of the organisms at concentrations equivalent to one-third of the MIC. The clinical implications of these effects need further evaluation.

Multiple-dose pharmacokinetics of imipenem-cilastatin.

We characterized the pharmacokinetic profile of imipenem-cilastatin administered intravenously to six normal volunteers in a dose of 1,000 mg of each drug every 6 h for 40 doses. The plasma concentrations of imipenem and cilastatin 1 h after the end of a 30-min infusion were 18.7 (+/- 2.1) and 19.1 (+/- 4.6), 20.0 (+/- 3.2) and 17.8 (+/- 4.8), and 23.4 (+/- 2.3) and 19.1 (+/- 3.5) micrograms/ml in the 1st, 17th, and 37th dosing intervals, respectively. The central compartment volumes of distribution for imipenem and cilastatin were 0.16 (+/- 0.05) and 0.14 (+/- 0.03) liter/kg, respectively. Elimination half-lives were short: 0.93 (+/- 0.09) h for imipenem and 0.84 (+/- 0.11) h for cilastatin. Plasma clearances were 12.1 (+/- 0.06) liters/h per 1.73 m2 for imipenem and 12.4 (+/- 1.1) liters/h per 1.73 m2 for cilastatin. Renal clearance accounted for 54% of the plasma clearance of imipenem and 69% of the plasma clearance of cilastatin. The concentrations of imipenem in plasma and urine remained above the MICs of the vast majority of pathogens throughout the dosing interval.

Effect of dose size on bioavailability of ciprofloxacin.

We evaluated the bioavailability of ciprofloxacin at two dose sizes in eight healthy volunteers. Each volunteer was given 200 mg of ciprofloxacin both orally and intravenously in a randomized crossover fashion and 750 mg orally. Bioavailability at the two doses was similar: 69 and 69.1% for the 200- and 750-mg doses, respectively. However, the bioavailability observed with the 750-mg dose was significantly more variable than that observed with the 200-mg dose. Between 375 and 700 mg of ciprofloxacin reached the systemic circulation after administration of the 750-mg dose, with no evidence of adverse reactions.

In vitro activity of ciprofloxacin in combination with ceftazidime, aztreonam, and azlocillin against multiresistant isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The combinations of ciprofloxacin plus ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin plus aztreonam, and ciprofloxacin plus azlocillin were evaluated for the presence of synergy against multiresistant isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The frequency of synergy was dependent on antibiotic susceptibilities. If the organism was resistant to ciprofloxacin, synergy was observed in more than 50% of the isolates; however, if the organism was resistant to the beta-lactam (with the exception of ceftazidime), synergy was generally observed in less than 10% of the isolates. Antagonism was not observed with any of the combinations. These results may be helpful in making clinical decisions in treating P. aeruginosa infections.

Synergism of the combinations of imipenem plus ciprofloxacin and imipenem plus amikacin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other bacterial pathogens.

The combinations of imipenem plus ciprofloxacin and imipenem plus amikacin were investigated for their activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other bacterial pathogens. For imipenem-susceptible P. aeruginosa, synergy of imipenem plus ciprofloxacin and imipenem plus amikacin was observed against 36 and 45% of the strains, respectively. The incidence of synergy against imipenem-resistant isolates of P. aeruginosa was 10% for both combinations. Antagonism was not observed with either combination.

Steady-state pharmacokinetics of imipenem in febrile neutropenic cancer patients.

We ascertained the pharmacokinetics of imipenem in febrile granulocytopenic cancer patients. The values observed were both different from and significantly more variable than those observed in normal volunteers. Free drug concentrations exceeded the MIC for 90% of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus strains for greater than 6 h. The MIC for 90% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains was exceeded for 4 h. Because imipenem induces a 2-h postantibiotic effect in P. aeruginosa, it is promising as single-agent empiric therapy in this setting.

Imipenem coadministered with cilastatin compared with moxalactam: integration of serum pharmacokinetics and microbiologic activity following single-dose administration to normal volunteers.

We administered 1 g of imipenem along with equal amounts of cilastatin (a dehydropeptidase I inhibitor) or 2 g of moxalactam intravenously over a period of 30 min to six volunteers in a crossover manner 1 week apart. The antibiotic concentrations and pharmacokinetics for each drug were determined and integrated with the microbiologic activity by measuring the duration of time that the free drug concentrations remained above the MICs for 90% of 581 clinical isolates and by measuring serum bactericidal activities against organisms which commonly infect granulocytopenic cancer patients. Moxalactam produced serum levels at 1 h after infusion of 99.9 micrograms/ml; these levels were four times greater than the plasma levels of imipenem (22.8 micrograms/ml). The trough (5.5-h) moxalactam serum levels were 10 times greater than those of imipenem (18.5 and 1.7 micrograms/ml, respectively). Essentially all of the imipenem was unbound to protein, whereas 36 to 42% of the moxalactam was unbound. Moxalactam produced free antibiotic concentrations that were above the MIC for 90% of the strains tested for more than 6 h against all of the species tested except Staphylococcus aureus (5.3 h), Enterobacter hafnia (1.6 h), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (0 h). The imipenem concentrations were above the MIC for 90% of the strains tested for 5.6 h or more against all of the bacteria tested except Proteus spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4.5 h). The geometric mean peak bactericidal titers from volunteers receiving imipenem were more than 1:8 against all bacteria and were significantly higher than the titers from volunteers receiving moxalactam against S. aureus (1:7.3) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1:4.5). These data, in addition to information obtained from animal models, indicate that imipenem is a promising new candidate for carefully controlled clinical trials as a single agent for therapy of serious infections, including empiric therapy for fever in granulocytopenic cancer patients.

The plasma pharmacokinetics of high dose (1 g) imipenem coadministered with 1 g cilastatin in six normal volunteers

The plasma pharmacokinetics of imipenem, a beta-lactam antibiotic of the new class of carbapenems, was evaluated by administering 1 g imipenem plus 1 g of the dehydropeptidase inhibitor cilastatin to six healthy male volunteers over 30 min. Subsequently intensive plasma sampling was done for 5.5 h. The volume of distribution of the central compartment was 0.16±0.04 1/kg; the volume of distribution (area) was 0.28±0.07 1/kg; the volume of distribution (steady state) was 0.23±0.03 1/kg. The mean plasma clearance was 10.1±1.0 l/h/1.73 m2. Model-independent analysis showed excellent agreement with these values. The terminal excretion half-life was short (1.3±0.4 h). For approximately 6 h after administration, the observed plasma levels were above those required to inhibit most nosocomial pathogens in vitro.

Group A Streptococcal Bacteremias Associated With Intravascular Catheters

caused by staphylococci,1,2 presumably because the microbial flora of the skin surface is the major reservoir of microorganisms colonizing and infecting percutaneously-inserted intravascular cannulas.3,4 Recently, we observed two episodes of group A streptococcal cellulitis and bacteremia related to infection of the subcutaneous tunnel of indwelling catheters. This prompted us to review our experience with nosocomial and community-acquired group A streptococcal bacteremias for the past year, and we identified a third catheter-related case. In our ongoing prospective surveillance of nosocomial bacteremias, we have not previously identified any other cases of intravascular catheter-related bacteremia caused by group A streptococcus. Likewise, in two large prospective studies of Hickman and Broviac catheter-related infections, the investigators did not report infections caused by this organism.5,6

Safety and tolerability of multiple doses of imipenem/cilastatin.

The safety and tolerability of 1 gm imipenem and cilastatin given together every 6 hours for 10 days was evaluated in a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial in normal subjects. Nausea was more common in the drug‐treated group (five of six subjects) than in the control group (two of six subjects). No consistent changes in hepatic function indices were noted. Although β2‐microglobulin excretion showed a significant trend of rising over time in the drug group, there were no differences between groups with regard to 24‐hour urinary excretion of either N‐acetyl‐β‐glucosaminidase or β2‐microglobulin. Urinalysis did not reveal any casts and serial creatinine clearance determinations showed no change in renal function in either the drug‐ or placebo‐treated groups. Pure tone audiograms were performed before and after dosing in 11 of 12 subjects; no changes were noted. We conclude that the combination of imipenem and cilastatin was well tolerated and safe.