Fosfomycin: the characteristics, activity, and use in critical care

Abstract

Fosfomycin (C₃H₇O₄P) is a phosphonic acid derivative representing an epoxide class of antibiotics. The drug is a re-emerging bactericidal antibiotic with a wide range of actions against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Among the existing antibacterial agents, fosfomycin has the lowest molecular weight (138 Da), which is not structurally associated with other classes of antibiotics. In intensive care unit (ICU) patients, severe soft tissue infections (STIs) may lead to serious life-threatening problems, and therefore, appropriate antibiotic therapy and often intensive care management (ICM) coupled with surgical intervention are necessary. Fosfomycin is an antibiotic primarily utilized for the treatment of STIs in ICUs. Recently, fosfomycin has attracted renewed interest for the treatment of serious systemic infections caused by multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. In some countries, intravenous fosfomycin has been prescribed for various serious systemic infections, such as acute osteomyelitis, nosocomial lower respiratory tract infections, complicated urinary tract infections, bacterial meningitis, and bacteremia. Administration of intravenous fosfomycin can result in a sufficient concentration of the drug at different body regions. Dose modification is not required in hepatic deficiency because fosfomycin is not subjected to enterohepatic circulation.

Keywords:

• fosfomycin
• soft tissue infections
• intensive care management

Introduction

Fosfomycin (C₃H₇O₄P) is a phosphonic acid derivative representing an epoxide class of antibiotics. Fosfomycin is a re-emerging bactericidal antibiotic with a wide range of actions against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including vancomycin-resistant enterococci, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Some non-fermenters such as Acinetobacter are inherently resistant to fosfomycin, whereas Pseudomonas is susceptible to the antibiotics in vitro.^1–3 In the past decade, fosfomycin was isolated from some strains of Streptomyces, but nowadays it is produced synthetically. Among the existing antibacterial agents, fosfomycin has the lowest molecular weight (138 Da), which is not structurally associated with other classes of antibiotics.^4,5

In intensive care unit (ICU) patients, severe soft tissue infections (STIs) may lead to serious life-threatening problems, and therefore, appropriate antibiotic therapy⁶ and often intensive care management (ICM) coupled with surgical intervention are necessary. Fosfomycin is considered an antibiotic primarily appropriate for the treatment of STIs in ICUs.⁷

Some appropriate properties of fosfomycin in healthy volunteers (eg, identical concentrations of the drug in the soft tissues and plasma) have made the drug a frequently administered antibiotic in the treatment of patients with sepsis and/or STI especially in Europe.⁸ Nevertheless, in USA, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved fosfomycin only for the management of uncomplicated cystitis.

Recently, the use of fosfomycin has attracted renewed interest for the treatment of serious systemic infections caused by multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae.³ In some countries, intravenous fosfomycin has been prescribed for various serious systemic infections, such as acute osteomyelitis, nosocomial lower respiratory tract infections, complicated urinary tract infections, bacterial meningitis, and bacteremia.^3,9 Fosfomycin trometamol, an oral formulation of fosfomycin, is available in USA and in Europe (in additional to the parenteral disodium compound) as used for therapy of cystitis in one 3 g dose or multiple oral doses of 3 g administered every other day.

Mechanism of action

Generally, antibiotics have the bactericidal and/or bacteriostatic activities and affect the vital functions essential for bacteria, including cell wall synthesis, protein translation, DNA duplication, RNA transcription, and/or cell membrane organization. Fosfomycin mechanism of action is unique; the drug irreversibly inhibits the initial phase of microbial cell wall synthesis.¹⁰ Chemical structure of fosfomycin is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 Chemical structure of fosfomycin.

Note: The empirical formula of the compound is C₃H₇O₄P (molecular weight: 138.059 g/mol).

Fosfomycin must enter into the bacterial cytoplasm for the bactericidal activity. To reach the target cell, fosfomycin uses the bacterial hexose monophosphate transport system (stimulated by glucose-6-phosphate [G6P]) and the bacterial l-a-glycerophosphate transport system (activated by glycerol-3-phosphate [G3P]). The chemical structure of fosfomycin mimics both G6P and G3P.^11,12

In the bacterial cytoplasm, fosfomycin binds UDP-GlcNAc enolpyruvyl transferase (MurA) and inactivates a vital enzyme such as enolpyruvyl transferase (MurA) involved in the peptidoglycan biosynthesis.¹³ MurA catalyzes the first phase of the peptidoglycan biosynthesis.¹⁴ Fosfomycin inhibits the peptidoglycan biosynthesis via preventing the formation of UDP-GlcNac-3-O-enolpyruvate from UDP-GlcNAc and phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP), resulting in bacterial cell destruction.¹² Fosfomycin acts as a PEP analog and competes with that.¹⁵ Furthermore, fosfomycin reduces penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs).¹⁰

Pharmacodynamic (PD) characteristics of fosfomycin

It is not clear whether fosfomycin shows a concentration-dependent or a time-dependent bactericidal function.¹⁶ In this regard, some studies have demonstrated that fosfomycin exhibits a concentration-dependent activity to destruct strains of Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis in vitro as well as strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae in vivo.^17,18 However, other studies have indicated a time-dependent bactericidal action of fosfomycin to destroy strains of S. aureus in vitro.^4,19

Depending on the applied concentration of fosfomycin, the drug may exhibit an extended post-antibiotic effect (PAE) (between 3.4 and 4.7 h) against strains of E. coli and P. mirabilis in vitro.¹⁷ However, a comparatively smaller PAE has been seen against S. aureus strains (0.5–1.4 h).²⁰

Pharmacokinetic (PK) characteristics of fosfomycin

Fosfomycin disodium is a very hydrophilic agent. Approximately 3% of the drug is bound to serum proteins and permits favorable tissue availability. The low molecular weight warrants high diffusibility of the drug.³

After intravenous administration, blood content of fosfomycina shows a rapid disposition phase followed by a slow distribution phase.²¹ Following the administration of multiple doses, a cumulative effect is seen. Elimination half-life of fosfomycin disodium is 1.5–2 h.^22–24 The C_max calculated with the standard intravenous formulation of the drug ranges from 200 to 644 mg/L, which is 10–20 times greater than the oral dose.^25,26 The volume of the drug distribution is 18–27 L at a steady state.¹¹

Administration of intravenous fosfomycin can result in a sufficient concentration of the drug at different body regions, such as bone, muscle, lung, appendix, cerebrospinal fluid, gallbladder, common bile duct, and heart valves.^11,25 Dose modification is not required in the hepatic deficiency because fosfomycin is not subjected to enterohepatic circulation.¹¹ Approximately 93% of an administered dose undergoes the glomerular filtration in the kidney and is excreted unaltered in the urine.¹¹ For serious systemic infections, fosfomycin disodium is utilized between 12 and 24 g as 2–4 divided doses. Reduction of daily dose of the drug is necessary for creatinine clearance of <40 mL/min. Addition of a dose of 2 g after each session has been suggested for patients subjected to intermittent hemodialysis. No dose adjustment is needed in continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).²⁷

Adverse effects

A number of adverse effects, including mild and self-limited gastrointestinal disorders (eg, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and dyspepsia), have also been reported following the oral administration of fosfomycin.²⁷ Other side effects, including dizziness, headaches, vaginitis, respiratory infections, and microbial superinfections, may also occur. Laboratory changes involve alterations in the number of blood cells (eosinophils, neutrophils, red blood cells, and platelets) and increase in the liver enzymes and bilirubin but no change in the renal function.²⁸

Following intravenous administration of fosfomycin, the potential adverse effects such as hypokalemia and sodium overload may occur. Each gram of intravenous fosfomycin consists of 0.32 g of sodium.²⁹ Furthermore, fosfomycin may increase potassium renal excretion, resulting in hypokalemia. Other adverse effects, including infusion site reactions, heart failure, and hypertension (because of sodium overload), and increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) may be developed by an intravenously administered fosfomycin dose.³⁰ Therefore, administration of potassium supplements is deemed to be necessary in patients receiving fosfomycin, and their levels should be monitored regularly. In patients with heart failure, caution is also essential.²⁷

Drug interaction

ICU patients are at a high risk for developing the resistant bacterial infections, and therefore, a combined antibacterial treatment is suggested for them.^31,32 Fosfomycin has been reported to show a 100% synergistic effect after combining with other antibacterial drugs.³³

Preventing the different stages of cell wall synthesis may lead to the synergistic effect of fosfomycin and β-lactam antibiotics; fosfomycin prevents the first stage of the cell wall synthesis procedure, whereas β-lactam antibiotics inhibit the final phase.³⁴ The potency of fosfomycin to alter the function of PBPs may also induce the synergistic effect between fosfomycin and β-lactam antibiotics.^35,36 The ciprofloxacin-mediated destruction of the bacterial outer membrane can enhance the penetration and action of fosfomycin and promote the synergistic effect between fosfomycin and ciprofloxacin.³⁷ For treating Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, synergy between fosfomycin and a wide range of other antibiotics, including cefepime, amikacin, aztreonam, meropenem, imipenem, ceftazidime, gentamicin, and ciprofloxacin, has been reported.^38,39 Fosfomycin combined with amikacin or sulbactam has a synergistic effect to fight against Acinetobacter baumannii strains and may consider an efficient combination therapy for the treatment of A. baumannii infections.^40,41 With respect to methicillin-resistant S. aureus, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, and Enterobacteriaceae species, fosfomycin also has synergistic effects when combined with other antibacterial agents.^33,34 In addition to high antibacterial effectiveness, fosfomycin can decrease toxicity related to other drugs (eg, glycopeptides, aminoglycosides, and polymyxin B) as lower doses of these antibiotics can be administered.^42–44

Fosfomycin resistance

Some mechanisms of fosfomycin resistance have been described.⁴⁵ The chromosomal resistance is caused by mutations in the genes encoding the G6P transporter or the G3P transporter resulting in the reduced uptake of the drug by the pathogen.^46,47 Another resistance mechanism is based on modifications in the targeted enzyme (Mur A) (point mutations at the binding site of the murA gene),⁴⁸ which decreases the affinity of fosfomycin. Increased expression of the murA gene also results in clinical resistance to fosfomycin.⁴⁹ The third mechanism of resistance is based on the inactivation of fosfomycin either by enzymatic cleavage of the epoxide ring or by phosphorylation of the phosphonate group. In the presence of the plasmid-mediated fosfomycin-modifying metalloenzymes (FosA, FosB, and FosX), the epoxide structure is cleaved.⁵⁰ Some kinases including FomA and FomB cause phosphorylation of fosfomycin to the diphosphate and triphosphate states leading to fosfomycin degradation.^51,52

Fosfomycin in critically ill patients

In recent years, the multidrug resistance to the used antibiotics has increased. Therefore, there is a crucial need for the development of new antimicrobial candidates.^53–61 Obtaining the appropriate concentrations of antibiotics at target sites is crucial to eliminate the relevant pathogens and clinical outcomes.^62–64 Recent studies in patients with sepsis have shown that despite sufficient concentrations of antibiotics in plasma, their concentrations in the interstitial fluid of soft tissues may be inadequate. This may be due to deficiency in transcapillary transfer of antibiotics to target sites.^65–69 Thus, most available antibiotics have a reduced tissue penetration in the septic patients. In this regard, the target site penetration of fosfomycin, an antibiotic mainly appropriate for the treatment of STIs in ICU patients, has been investigated. In nine patients with sepsis, the microbiologically active levels of fosfomycin were evaluated in the interstitial space fluid of skeletal muscle and correlated with the corresponding plasma concentrations.⁷ The results demonstrated that fosfomycin concentrations in plasma and muscle interstitium exceeded the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for various clinically important pathogens (Streptococcus pyogenes, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa). Thus, fosfomycin shows a tissue PK profile, which suggests a substitute for other broad-spectrum antibiotics in critically ill patients undergoing STI.⁷

In a study on critically ill patients, the optimal dosage regimen of intravenous fosfomycin in combination with carbapenem and based on PK/PD targets was evaluated for the treatment of P. aeruginosa.⁷⁰ The P. aeruginosa isolates were recovered from various clinical specimens. MICs of all the isolates were determined, and PK parameters were obtained. Monte Carlo simulation was performed to determine the percentage of target attainment (PTA) and cumulative fraction of response (CFR). The results indicated that the extended infusion of fosfomycin 16–24 g combined with prolonged carbapenem infusion could be utilized in non-MDR P. aeruginosa treatment.⁷⁰

Gram-negative resistance is a crucial global crisis that has been illustrated by the rapid growth of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). For serious systemic infections induced by multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, the use of fosfomycin as an essential and beneficial option has been recently renewed. The new evidence on the hidden capacity of intravenous fosfomycin to destroy Gram-negative pathogens has been demonstrated elsewhere.³ Although several hopeful evidence are available for fosfomycin as the last antibacterial option to treat severe Gram-negative infections, more investigations are still necessary before using the intravenous fosfomycin.³

Along with harmonization of current breakpoints and according to the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) and Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), fosfomycin has a high potency to treat serious systemic infections. However, breakpoints for Pseudomonas sp. need to be defined urgently. Dose of fosfomycin requires to be defined for serious infections where probably higher daily dosages (24 g/day) may be required to prevent the heteroresistant mutant selection. Well controlled and randomized studies comparing fosfomycin versus colistin and investigating mono and combination therapy are essential to identify optimal regimens of fosfomycin in critically ill populations with resistant Gram-negative infections. Until the abovementioned need gaps are clear, fosfomycin should not be used as a monotherapy option to treat severe systemic infections.³

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.