Mordechai Grupper

Multicenter Evaluation of Ceftazidime-Avibactam and Ceftolozane-Tazobactam Inhibitory Activity against Meropenem-Nonsusceptible Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Blood, Respiratory Tract, and Wounds

ABSTRACT The recent escalation of occurrences of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been recognized globally and threatens to erode the widespread clinical utility of the carbapenem class of compounds for this prevalent health care-associated pathogen. Here, we compared the in vitro inhibitory activity of ceftazidime-avibactam and ceftolozane-tazobactam against 290 meropenem-nonsusceptible Pseudomonas aeruginosa nonduplicate clinical isolates from 34 U.S. hospitals using reference broth microdilution methods. Ceftazidime-avibactam and ceftolozane-tazobactam were active, with ceftolozane-tazobactam having significantly higher inhibitory activity than ceftazidime-avibactam. The heightened inhibitory activity of ceftolozane-tazobactam was sustained when the site of origin (respiratory, blood, or wound) and nonsusceptibility to other β-lactam antimicrobials was considered. An extensive genotypic search for enzymatically driven β-lactam resistance mechanisms revealed the exclusive presence of the VIM metallo-β-lactamase among only 4% of the subset of isolates nonsusceptible to ceftazidime-avibactam, ceftolozane-tazobactam, or both. These findings suggest an important role for both ceftazidime-avibactam and ceftolozane-tazobactam against carbapenem-nonsusceptible Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Further in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to better define the clinical utility of these novel therapies against the increasingly prevalent threat of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Continuous and Prolonged Intravenous β-Lactam Dosing: Implications for the Clinical Laboratory

SUMMARY Beta-lactam antibiotics serve as a cornerstone in the management of bacterial infections because of their wide spectrum of activity and low toxicity. Since resistance rates among bacteria are continuously on the rise and the pipeline for new antibiotics does not meet this trend, an optimization of current beta-lactam treatment is needed. This review provides an overview of optimization through use of prolonged- and continuous-infusion dosing strategies compared with more traditional intermittent infusions. Included is an overview of the scientific basis for using these nontraditional prolonged- and continuous-infusion-based regimens, with a focus on major areas in which the clinical laboratory can support the clinical use of these regimens.

Population Pharmacokinetics of Cefazolin in Serum and Adipose Tissue From Overweight and Obese Women Undergoing Cesarean Delivery

The optimal antibiotic prophylaxis dosing regimen of cefazolin for cesarean delivery (CD) in overweight and obese women is unknown. This study was done to compare the duration that cefazolin concentrations remain above the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in adipose tissue (AT). Serum and AT concentrations from 3 previous studies in CD patients were comodeled using the nonparametric adaptive grid algorithm in Pmetrics. AT concentrations for 5000 overweight and obese patients receiving 1‐, 2‐, and 3‐g cefazolin regimens were simulated to calculate the probability that free drug concentrations remained above an MIC of 2 μg/mL at 1, 1.5, and 2 hours after administration. Sixty‐seven patients (mean body mass index 38.7 kg/m2; range 25.5‐55.8 kg/m2) provided data. A 2‐compartment model with 1 of the compartments representing AT fit the data best. Final model parameters were clearance 7.38 ± 5.34 L/h, volume of central compartment 11.8±9.36 L, and AT volume of distribution 80.12 ± 55.47 L. The mean±SD (median) penetration ratio of cefazolin into AT was 0.81 ± 2.06 (0.62). At 1.5 and 2 hours, 1‐, 2‐, and 3‐g regimens achieved AT concentrations above the MIC in 71.2%, 92.4%, and 94.7%, and 55.7%, 86.8%, and 91.7%, respectively, of simulated patients. Cefazolin achieved good penetration into AT. Because CD duration is commonly less than 1.5 hours, a 2‐g dose has a high probability of providing AT concentrations above the target pathogens’ MIC for overweight and obese females. A second dose may be considered for longer surgeries.

Antibacterial activity of human simulated epithelial lining fluid concentrations of amikacin inhale alone and in combination with meropenem against Acinetobacter baumannii

Abstract Background: Acinetobacter baumannii(ACBN) is a MDR organism causing pneumonia in ventilated patients. High MICs often result in insufficient lung exposures, thus poor outcomes have been observed with parenteral antimicrobials. Amikacin Inhale(AMK-I), is a drug–device combination of amikacin and a Pulmonary Drug Delivery System device. We aimed to describe the pharmacodynamic profile of human simulated epithelial lining fluid(ELF) exposures of AMK-I and intravenous meropenem alone and in combination against ACBN with variable susceptibility profiles. Methods: AMK-I ELF exposures and the ELF profile of meropenem achieved after intravenous administration were evaluated in an in vitro pharmacodynamic model. Nine ACBN with amikacin/meropenem MICs of 2–512/2 to >64 mg/L were utilized. MICs were repeated post exposure to assess the development of resistance. Results: AMK-I monotherapy rapidly achieved and sustained bactericidal activity for isolates with amikacin MIC ≤128 mg/L. For isolates with MICs of 256 and 512 mg/L initial reductions in bacterial density were observed followed by regrowth. The combination produced similar bactericidal activity against ACBN with amikacin MICs of ≤128. While the combination regimen produced initial reductions and prolonged the duration of activity against organisms with MICs of 256 and 512 mg/L, regrowth and MIC elevations were noted during the 72-h exposure period. Conclusion: The combination achieved rapid and sustained efficacy when amikacin MICs were ≤128 mg/L and prolonged the duration of activity compared to monotherapy for organisms with MICs 256 mg/L and 512 mg/L. These data support the utility of AMK-I as an adjunct for the treatment of pneumonia caused by A. baumannii with MICs above current susceptibility break-points.

In vitro blood culture bottle inoculation of whole blood with clinically relevant antibiotic concentrations: a word of caution

Dear Editor, We read with great interest the manuscript by Lovern and colleagues entitled BAntimicrobial binding and growth kinetics in BacT/ALERT® FA Plus and BACTEC® Aerobic/F Plus blood culture media^ [1]. Bloodstream infections (BSI) are common and associated with major morbidity and mortality worldwide [2–5]. Rapid identification of a culprit pathogen and prompt appropriate antimicrobial administration are essential for reducing mortality rates, especially concerning patients presenting with septic shock [6–8]. A positive blood culture (BC) currently remains the gold standard for establishing this diagnosis [4, 9], and BC systems using BC bottles are the most commonly used tools for diagnosing bacterial presence in the bloodstream. An established limitation of these systems is their reduced ability to recover bacteria when BC bottles are inoculated with blood obtained after antibiotics have already been administered to patients suspected of having an infection. The presence of antibiotics in a blood sample collected for culture may result in delayed time to detection (TTD) or even falsenegative results. As a result, many commercial BC bottles are manufactured with antibiotic binding agents integrated within their media [1, 10–15]. The performance of these binding agents has been evaluated over the years through the use of in vitro inoculation of BC bottles with bacteria and antibiotics at clinically relevant concentrations. Although older studies have used broth or buffer to provide optimal bacteria growth conditions in the BC bottles [10, 11], contemporary studies of similar design have predominantly used banked or fresh whole blood, aiming at a more real-life simulation [1, 12–15]. When using whole blood for these studies, consideration should be given to the knowledge that most antibiotics are present only in the aqueous phase of whole blood, namely serum or plasma, which is roughly 50% of the whole blood volume, depending on the hematocrit. Furthermore, antibiotics are protein bound in this medium. The simulated final antibiotic concentration may, therefore, differ from that pursued if these factors are not taken into account when preparing the BC bottles for the experiment. With this specific methodology in mind, most BC simulation studies, including the study by Lovern and colleagues, do not provide sufficient detail as to how the final antibiotic concentrations were achieved, and few tested the actual concentration in the bottle for confirmation [1, 11–15]. To highlight the differences in concentrations that are achievable when the hematocrit of whole blood is not considered, the current in vitro study compared total and free drug concentrations of the ceftolozane component of ceftolozane– tazobactam between fresh whole blood and plasma samples. Whole blood samples were collected in 10-mL BD Vacutainer® sodium heparin tubes (Becton, Dickinson and Co., Franklin Lakes, NJ) from two healthy adult male volunteers on the day of the experiment. Ceftolozane–tazobactam (Zerbaxa®, Merck & Co., Kenilworth, NJ) was purchased from Cardinal Health (Dublin, OH). The fresh whole blood from each volunteer was split, with half being centrifuged immediately at 3000 rpm for 15 min at 4 °C to separate plasma. Within 30 min of collection, whole blood and plasma samples were then inoculated with the same amount of ceftolozane–tazobactam stock solution by volume, aiming to achieve a target concentration of 150 μg/mL (i.e., ∼peak concentration) and 8 μg/mL (i.e., ∼trough concentration) of the ceftolozane component. The null hypothesis was that no * D. P. Nicolau david.nicolau@hhchealth.org

Obesity and skin and soft tissue infections: how to optimize antimicrobial usage for prevention and treatment?

Purpose of review Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are prevalent in the obese population, with rising trend expected. Although numerous antibiotics are available for the prevention and treatment of SSTIs, their characterization in obese patients is not a regulatory mandate. Consequently, information that carries importance for optimizing the dosing regimen in the obese population may not be readily available. This review focuses on the most recent pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data on this topic with attention to cefazolin for surgical prophylaxis as well as antibiotics that are active against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Moreover, the implications for optimizing SSTIs prevention and treatment in the obese population will also be discussed. Recent findings On the basis of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic considerations, most studies found a perioperative prophylactic cefazolin regimen of 2 g to be reasonable in the case of obese patients undergoing cesarean delivery or bariatric surgery. There is general paucity of data regarding the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic characteristics of antimicrobials active against MRSA in obese patients, especially for the target tissue. Therapeutic drug monitoring has been correlated with pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic optimization for vancomycin and teicoplanin, and should be used in these cases. There is more supportive evidence for the use of oxazolidinones (linezolid and tedizolid), daptomycin and lipoglycopeptides (telavancin, dalbavancin and oritavancin) in the management of SSTIs in this population. Summary The pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic approach, which can be used as a basis or supplement to clinical trials, provides valuable data and decision-making tools for optimizing regimens used for both prevention and treatment of SSTIs in the obese population. Important pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic characteristics of antibiotics, such as the penetration into the subcutaneous tissue and the probability of reaching the pharmacodynamic, target dictate efficacy, and thus should be taken into account and further investigated.

Simplifying Piperacillin/Tazobactam Dosing: Pharmacodynamics of Utilizing Only 4.5 or 3.375 g Doses for Patients With Normal and Impaired Renal Function:

Objectives: To evaluate the pharmacodynamic exposure of piperacillin/tazobactam across the renal function range using 4.5 or 3.375 g dosing regimens. Methods: A 5000-patient Monte Carlo simulation was conducted to determine the probability of achieving 50% free time above the minimum inhibitory concentration (fT > MIC) for piperacillin. Proposed regimens, using solely 4.5 or 3.375 g strengths, were compared with regimens listed in piperacillin/tazobactam prescribing information over creatinine clearance (CrCl) ranges of 120 mL/min to hemodialysis. The probability of target attainment (PTA) at MICs ≤ 16 μg/mL was compared between proposed and standard regimens. Results: At CrCl 41 to 120 mL/min, prolonged infusions of 4.5 g (3 hours) and 3.375 g (4 hours) every 6 hours resulted in ≥95% PTA versus ≥76% for standard regimens (0.5 hour). At CrCl 20 to 40 mL/min, 4.5 and 3.375 g every 8 hours as prolonged infusions achieved slightly higher PTA (≥98%) versus standard regimens (≥93%). Similarly, PTA achieved with prolonged infusions of 4.5 and 3.375 g every 12 hours (≥93%) was comparable with those of standard regimens (≥91%) at CrCl 1 to 19 mL/min. In hemodialysis, 100% PTA was achieved with prolonged infusion regimens. Conclusion: Piperacillin/tazobactam regimens designed around the 4.5 or 3.375 g dose and prolonged infusions provided similar or better PTA at MICs ≤ 16 μg/mL compared with standard regimens. These observations may support the stocking and use of a single piperacillin/tazobactam strength to simplify dosing.

Effects of Clinically Meaningful Concentrations of Antipseudomonal β-Lactams on Time to Detection and Organism Growth in Blood Culture Bottles

ABSTRACT The effectiveness of antimicrobial binding resins present in blood culture (BC) bottles in removing meropenem, ceftolozane-tazobactam, and ceftazidime-avibactam is unknown. We assessed the time to detection (TTD) and growth of 2 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates in the presence of clinically meaningful concentrations of these antibiotics. Bactec Plus Aerobic/F and BacT/Alert FA Plus BC bottles were inoculated with one of two isolates (1 meropenem susceptible and 1 resistant), followed by fresh whole blood containing the peak, midpoint, or trough plasma concentrations for meropenem, ceftolozane-tazobactam, and ceftazidime-avibactam. Matching bottles were loaded into their respective detection instruments and a standard incubator at 37°C, with TTD and CFU being monitored for up to 72 h. Bacterial growth was observed for 11/48 (22.9%), 22/48 (45.8%), and 47/48 (97.9%) of all BC bottles inoculated with the peak, midpoint, and trough concentrations, respectively (P ≤ 0.001). When P. aeruginosa was isolated, the TTD was typically <26 h, and no differences between Bactec and BacT/Alert bottles were observed. In both systems, meropenem was removed to a greater degree than were ceftolozane and ceftazidime; however, concentrations for all antibiotics remained above the MIC for the susceptible organisms at 12 h. BC bottles containing antibiotic binding resins may not sufficiently inactivate achievable concentrations of meropenem, ceftolozane-tazobactam, and ceftazidime-avibactam. The consistent identification of both P. aeruginosa isolates was observed only in the presence of antibiotic trough concentrations. To minimize false-negative BC results for patients already receiving these antibiotics, cultures should be collected just prior to the next dose, when antibiotic concentrations are lowest.