Meropenem/vaborbactam Activity In Vitro: A New Option for Klebsiella Pneumoniae Carbapenemase (KPC)-Producing Klebsiella Pneumoniae Treatment

Abstract

Aim: Infections by Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing K. pneumoniae represent a major challenge because of limited treatment strategies. New β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor associations may help to deal with this challenge. The aim of this study is to evaluate the in vitro susceptibility of KPC-producing K. pneumoniae for meropenem/vaborbactam in comparison with ceftazidime/avibactam against. Materials and methods: Twenty-eight strains isolated from blood cultures were evaluated. Testing for susceptibility to meropenem/vaborbactam and ceftazidime/avibactam was performed by E-test gradient strip. Results: All the clinical isolates were susceptible to meropenem/vaborbactam, while one strain was resistant to ceftazidime/avibactam with a MIC of 32 μg/ml. The median MIC of ceftazidime/avibactam evaluated after standardization was higher compared with that of meropenem/vaborbactam. Conclusion: Meropenem/vaborbactam could be an important turning point in the treatment of KPC-producing K. pneumoniae infections, especially considering the emergence of ceftazidime/avibactam resistance.

Lay abstract

Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae is responsible, in critically ill patients, for nosocomial infections that are difficult to treat due to limited therapeutic options. Today, new antibiotics are available for treating these infections. The aim of this study is to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of meropenem/vaborbactam versus ceftazidime/avibactam. The results demonstrate that meropenem/vaborbactam could be an important turning point in the treatment of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae infections, considering the emergence of ceftazidime/avibactam resistance.

Keywords::

• antibiotic resistance
• ceftazidime/avibactam
• drugs
• KPC-producing K. pneumoniae
• meropenem/vaborbactam

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Gabriel Gustafsson Hall MD, Hospital of Visby, Sweden, for proofreading.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

For this type of study, ethical approval is not necessary. This study follows the 305 ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to thank Gabriel Gustafsson Hall MD, Hospital of Visby, Sweden, for proofreading.