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AbstractBackgroundMethodsResultsConclusionCombination therapy is an attractive therapeutic option for extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. Existing data support the combination of aztreonam and ceftazidime/avibactam (CZA) against class serine-β-lactamase (SBL)- and metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) - producing Enterobacterales. However, data about that combination against SBL- and MBL-producing P. aeruginosa are scarce. The objective of the study was to assess the in vitro activity of CZA and aztreonam alone and in combination against SBL- and MBL-producing XDR P. aeruginosa isolatesThe combination was analyzed by means of the hollow-fiber infection model in three selected carbapenemase-producing P. aeruginosa isolates that were representative of the three most common XDRP. aeruginosa high-risk clones (ST175, ST111, ST235) responsible for global nosocomial infection outbreaks.The three isolates were nonsusceptible to CZA and nonsusceptible to aztreonam. In the dynamic hollow-fiber infection model, the combination of CZA plus aztreonam exerts a bactericidal effect on the isolates, regardless of their resistance mechanism and demonstrates synergistic interactions against three isolates, achieving a bacterial reduction of 5.07 log10 CFU/ml, 5.2 log10 CFU/ml and 4 log10 CFU/ml, respectively.The combination of CZA and aztreonam significantly enhanced the in vitro efficacy against XDR P. aeruginosa isolates compared to each monotherapy. This improvement suggests that the combination could serve as a feasible treatment alternative for infections caused by carbapenemase-producing XDR P. aeruginosa, especially in scenarios where no other treatment options are available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceftazidime/avibactam (CAZ/AVI) is a combination of a well‐known third‐generation, broad‐spectrum cephalosporin with a new beta‐lactamase inhibitor that has been approved for the treatment of various infectious diseases (especially multidrug‐resistant Gram‐negative bacterial infections) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The current study extensively assessed CAZ/AVI‐related adverse events (AEs) in the real world through data mining of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database to better understand toxicities. The signals of CAZ/AVI‐related AEs were quantified using disproportionality analyses, including the reporting odds ratio, the proportional reporting ratio, the Bayesian confidence propagation neural network, and the multi‐item gamma Poisson shrinker algorithms. Out of 10,114,815 records retrieved from the FAERS database, 628 cases were identified, where CAZ/AVI was implicated as the primary suspect drug. A total of 61 preferred terms with significant disproportionality that simultaneously met the criteria of all four algorithms were retained. Several unexpected safety signals may also occur, including melena, hypernatremia, depressed level of consciousness, brain edema, petechiae, delirium, and shock hemorrhagic. The median onset time for AEs associated with CAZ/AVI was 4 days, with most cases occurring within 3 days after CAZ/AVI initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilation-associated pneumonia (VAP) are challenging clinical conditions due to the challenging tissue penetrability of the lung. This study aims to evaluate the potential role of fosfomycin (FOS) associated with ceftazidime/avibactam (CZA) in improving the outcome in this setting. We performed a retrospective study including people with HAP or VAP treated with CZA or CZA+FOS for at least 72 h. Clinical data were collected from the SUSANA study, a multicentric cohort to monitor the efficacy and safety of the newer antimicrobial agents. A total of 75 nosocomial pneumonia episodes were included in the analysis. Of these, 34 received CZA alone and 41 in combination with FOS (CZA+FOS). People treated with CZA alone were older, more frequently male, received a prolonged infusion more frequently, and were less frequently affected by carbapenem-resistant infections (p = 0.01, p = 0.06, p < 0.001, p = 0.03, respectively). No difference was found in terms of survival at 28 days from treatment start between CZA and CZA+FOS at the multivariate analysis (HR = 0.32; 95% CI = 0.07–1.39; p = 0.128), while prolonged infusion showed a lower mortality rate at 28 days (HR = 0.34; 95% CI = 0.14–0.96; p = 0.04). Regarding safety, three adverse events (one acute kidney failure, one multiorgan failure, and one urticaria) were reported. Our study found no significant association between combination therapy and mortality. Further investigations, with larger and more homogeneous samples, are needed to evaluate the role of combination therapy in this setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Novel beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor (BIBLI) combinations are commercially available and have been used for treating carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) infections. Continuous surveillance of susceptibility profiles and resistance mechanism identification are necessary to monitor the evolution of resistance within these agents. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility rates of ceftazidime/avibactam, imipenem/relebactam and meropenem/vaborbactam in CRKP isolated from patients with bloodstream infections who underwent screening for a randomized clinical trial in Brazil. Methods: Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined for meropenem, ceftazidime/avibactam, imipenem/relebactam and meropenem/vaborbactam using the gradient diffusion strip method. Carbapenemase genes were detected by multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction. Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing isolates showing resistance to any BLBLI and New Delhi Metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM)-producing isolates with susceptibility to any BLBLI isolates were further submitted for whole-genome sequencing. Results: From a total of 69 CRKP isolates, 39 were positive for blaKPC, 19 for blaNDM and 11 for blaKPC and blaNDM. KPC-producing isolates demonstrated susceptibility rates above 94 % for all BLBLIs. Two isolates with resistance to meropenem/vaborbactam demonstrated a Gly and Asp duplication at the porin OmpK36 as well as a truncated OmpK35. All NDM-producing isolates, including KPC and NDM coproducers, demonstrated susceptibility rates to ceftazidime/avibactam, imipenem/relebactam and meropenem/vaborbactam of 0 %, 9.1–21.1 % and 9.1–26.3 %, respectively. Five NDM-producing isolates that presented susceptibility to BLBLIs also had porin alterations Conclusions: This study showed that, although high susceptibility rates to BLBLIs were found, KPC-2 isolates were able to demonstrate resistance probably as a result of porin mutations. Additionally, NDM-1 isolates showed susceptibility to BLBLIs in vitro.

Introduction: Infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) pose a significant clinical challenge due to increasing antibiotic resistance. This study analyzes the effectiveness of ceftazidime/avibactam treatment for KPC infections, focusing on 30-day mortality and comparing results with control groups treated with different antibiotics. Material and methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of six cohort studies, comparing thirty-day mortality in patients treated with ceftazidime/avibactam with control groups using other antibiotics. The studies included patients infected with KPC, and the analysis focused on therapeutic effectiveness. Aim of the study: The aim of the study is to compare the results in terms of 30-day mortality in groups treated with ceftazidime/avibactam compared to control groups using different antibiotics. Conclusions: Data analysis from various studies revealed varied 30-day mortality outcomes in groups treated with ceftazidime/avibactam compared to control groups using different antibiotics. Ceftazidime/avibactam proved to be more effective in all studies, reducing mortality rates compared to other treatment regimens. We emphasize that emerging antibiotic resistance, especially in the case of KPC, requires a comprehensive therapeutic approach. Despite promising ceftazidime/avibactam results, factors such as overall patient health and treatment delays may influence final therapy outcomes. We also highlight controversies regarding combination therapy vs. monotherapy, necessitating further research. Our work underscores the importance of monitoring the effectiveness of KPC infection treatment and exploring new therapeutic strategies. Further clinical studies are essential to develop a fuller understanding and optimal therapeutic protocols in the face of the growing antibiotic resistance problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Bacterial resistance surveillance is one of the main outputs of microbiological laboratories and its results are important part of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). In this study, the susceptibility of specific bacteria to selected antimicrobial agents was tested. The susceptibility of 90 unique isolates of pathogens of critical priority obtained from clinically valid samples of ICU patients in 2017–2021 was tested. 50% of these fulfilled difficult-to-treat resistance (DTR) criteria and 50% were susceptible to all antibiotics included in the definition. 10 Enterobacterales strains met DTR criteria, and 2 (20%) were resistant to colistin (COL), 2 (20%) to cefiderocol (FCR), 7 (70%) to imipenem/cilastatin/relebactam (I/R), 3 (30%) to ceftazidime/avibactam (CAT) and 5 (50%) to fosfomycin (FOS). For Enterobacterales we also tested aztreonam/avibactam (AZA) for which there are no breakpoints yet. The highest MIC of AZA observed was 1 mg/l, MIC range in the susceptible cohort was 0.032–0.064 mg/l and in the DTR cohort (incl. class B beta-lactamase producers) it was 0.064–1 mg/l. Two (13.3%) isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15 DTR strains) were resistant to COL, 1 (6.7%) to FCR, 13 (86.7%) to I/R, 5 (33.3%) to CAT, and 5 (33.3%) to ceftolozane/tazobactam. All isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii with DTR were susceptible to COL and FCR, and at the same time resistant to I/R and ampicillin/sulbactam. New antimicrobial agents are not 100% effective against DTR. Therefore, it is necessary to perform susceptibility testing of these antibiotics, use the data for surveillance (including local surveillance) and conform to AMS standards.

We evaluated the activities of aztreonam/avibactam and recently approved β-lactamase inhibitor combinations (BLICs) to compare the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU patients. Clinical isolates (1/patient) were consecutively collected from 72 United States medical centres in 2020–2022 and susceptibility tested by broth microdilution. The results for 5421 isolates from ICU patients were analysed and compared to those for 20,649 isolates from non-ICU patients. Isolates from ventilator-associated pneumonia patients were analysed separately. Aztreonam/avibactam inhibited 100.0%/>99.9% Enterobacterales and 100.0%/98.3% of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) from ICU/non-ICU patients at ≤8 mg/L, respectively. The CRE susceptibility rates were 88.5%/82.9% for ceftazidime/avibactam, 82.1%/81.2% for meropenem/vaborbactam, and 78.2%/72.6% for imipenem/relebactam among ICU/non-ICU isolates. Among the P. aeruginosa isolates from ICU/non-ICU patients, the susceptibility rates were 96.3%/97.6% for ceftazidime/avibactam, 97.2/98.4% for ceftolozane/tazobactam, 97.1%/98.0% for imipenem/relebactam, 77.8%/84.6% for piperacillin/tazobactam, and 76.9%/85.8% for meropenem; aztreonam/avibactam inhibited 78.0%/81.9% of P. aeruginosa at ≤8 mg/L. In summary, lower susceptibility rates were observed among ICU than non-ICU isolates. Aztreonam/avibactam exhibited potent in vitro activity and broad-spectrum activity against Enterobacterales from ICU and non-ICU patients, including CRE and isolates non-susceptible to newer BLICs. Against P. aeruginosa, aztreonam/avibactam showed a spectrum of activity comparable to that of piperacillin/tazobactam, meropenem, and ceftazidime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) have become a major public health problem worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate efficacy of ceftazidime/avibactam and plazomicin on carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli isolates. Susceptibility of imipenem, meropenem, ertapenem, ceftazidime/avibactam and plazomicin was investigated by broth-microdilution method. Major carbapenemases NDM, VIM, IMP, KPC, OXA-48 as well as other β-lactamases namely, TEM, SHV, OXA-1-like, CTX-M, ACC, FOX, MOX, DHA, CIT, EBC, VEB, GES, PER were investigated by PCR. A total of 120 carbapenem-resistant isolates (60 E. coli and 60 K. pneumoniae) were included in this study and bla OXA-48-like was found in 78.33%, bla NDM in 26.66%, bla KPC in 7.5%, bla IMP in 5.83%, and bla VIM in 5%. Among 94 isolates with the bla OXA-48-like gene, 22.3% were resistant to ceftazidime/avibactam and 51.1% were resistant to plazomicin. Of 32 isolates with bla NDM, 31 (96.9%) were resistant to ceftazidime/avibactam and 30 (93.75%) were resistant to plazomicin, and both antibiotics had limited effects against bla NDM carriers (P < 0.001). Of the 12 isolates with bla NDM+OXA-48 combination, 11 (91.7%) were resistant to ceftazidime/avibactam and plazomicin. The effect of both antibiotics was significantly lower in strains with bla NDM+OXA-48 combination (P < 0.005). The most common carbapenemase genes in this study were bla OXA-48-like and bla NDM. Ceftazidime/avibactam demonstrated a good efficacy among OXA-48 producing K. pneumoniae and E. coli , however, plazomicin had a significantly lower antibacterial effect in our study. Both antimicrobial agents should be considered as an option by evaluating combined susceptibility results and gene patterns obtained by regional and global molecular data in the treatment of CRE infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gram-negative bacteria have been one of the most studied classes in the field of microbiology, especially in the context of globally alarming antimicrobial resistance levels to these pathogens over the course of the past decades. With high numbers of these microorganisms being described as multidrug-resistant (MDR), or even extended-drug-resistant (XDR) bacteria, specialists in the field have been struggling to keep up with higher prevalence of difficult-to-treat infections caused by such superbugs. The FDA approval of novel antimicrobials, such as cefiderocol (FDC), ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T), ceftazidime/avibactam (CZA), imipenem/relebactam (IMR), sulbactam/durlobactam (SUL-DUR) and phase 3 clinical trials' results of aztreonam/avibactam (ATM-AVI) has proven that, while all these substances provide encouraging efficacy rates, antibiotic resistance keeps up with the pace of drug development. Microorganisms have developed more extensive mechanisms of resistance in order to target the threat posed by these novel antimicrobials, thus equiring researchers to be on a constant lookout for other potential drug candidates and molecule development. However, these strategies require a proper understanding of bacterial resistance mechanisms to gain a comprehensive outlook on the issue. The present review aims to highlight these six antibiotic agents, which have brought hope to clinicians during the past decade, discussing general properties of these substances, as well as mechanisms and patterns of resistance, while also providing a short overview on further directions in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial resistance surveillance is one of the main outputs of microbiological laboratories and its results are important part of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). In this study, the susceptibility of specific bacteria to selected antimicrobial agents was tested. The susceptibility of 90 unique isolates of pathogens of critical priority obtained from clinically valid samples of ICU patients in 2017–2021 was tested. 50% of these fulfilled difficult-to-treat resistance (DTR) criteria and 50% were susceptible to all antibiotics included in the definition. 10 Enterobacterales strains met DTR criteria, and 2 (20%) were resistant to colistin (COL), 2 (20%) to cefiderocol (FCR), 7 (70%) to imipenem/cilastatin/relebactam (I/R), 3 (30%) to ceftazidime/avibactam (CAT) and 5 (50%) to fosfomycin (FOS). For Enterobacterales we also tested aztreonam/avibactam (AZA) for which there are no breakpoints yet. The highest MIC of AZA observed was 1 mg/l, MIC range in the susceptible cohort was 0.032–0.064 mg/l and in the DTR cohort (incl. class B beta-lactamase producers) it was 0.064–1 mg/l. Two (13.3%) isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15 DTR strains) were resistant to COL, 1 (6.7%) to FCR, 13 (86.7%) to I/R, 5 (33.3%) to CAT, and 5 (33.3%) to ceftolozane/tazobactam. All isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii with DTR were susceptible to COL and FCR, and at the same time resistant to I/R and ampicillin/sulbactam. New antimicrobial agents are not 100% effective against DTR. Therefore, it is necessary to perform susceptibility testing of these antibiotics, use the data for surveillance (including local surveillance) and conform to AMS standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae strains (CP-Kps) have recently been observed to spread rapidly worldwide. New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) producing clones of Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) cause a significant healthcare burden, particularly in Indian sub-continent, where this clone is circulating widely. However, in Italy, data on the incidence of these new clones is limited, and an ST437 NDM-producing K. pneumoniae strain has not been reported to date. A sacral ulcer infection caused by a K. pneumoniae strain was identified in an 85-year-old Italian male patient with several comorbidities. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed an extensive resistance to a wide range of antimicrobials, including novel agents such as cefiderocol and ceftazidime/avibactam. Genomic analysis identified the pathogen as an ST437 K. pneumoniae strain harboring blaNDM-5, blaOXA-232 and blaCTX-M-15 genes. Following the identification of this first case, several infection control measures were implemented in healthcare settings, including direct precautions and reinforcement of standard cross-transmission control measures. The emergence of pathogenic microbial clones carrying new genetic determinants, particularly in a little city, requires prompt diagnosis and therapeutic protocols. An effective infection control system for the early detection and/or control of the transmission of NDM-producing Enterobacteriaceae is also needed. Further investigations are required to better understand the potential transmission routes and evolution of these clones.

We developed a novel culture-based test, the Rapid CAZ/AVI NP test, for rapid identification of ceftazidime/avibactam susceptibility/resistance in Enterobacterales. This test is based on glucose metabolization upon bacterial growth in the presence of a defined concentration of ceftazidime/avibactam (128/53 μg/mL). Bacterial growth is visually detectable by a red to yellow color change of red phenol, a pH indicator. A total of 101 well characterized enterobacterial isolates were used to evaluate the test performance. This test showed positive percent agreement of 100% and negative percent agreement of 98.5% with overall percent agreement of 99%, by comparison with the MIC gradient strip test (Etest) taken as the reference standard method. The Rapid CAZ/AVI NP test had only 1.5% major errors and 0% extremely major errors. This test is rapid (result within 2 hours 45 minutes), reliable, affordable, easily interpretable, and easy to implement in clinical microbiology laboratories without requiring any specific equipment.

Ceftazidime/avibactam (CAZ-AVI) is FDA-approved for managing infections caused by resistant gram-negative bacilli, particularly infections via carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales pathogens. The clinical data are still limited, particularly those in Saudi Arabia. The present study is a retrospective cohort study that was carried out at the Armed Forces Hospital in the southern region of Saudi Arabia to compare the clinical and microbiological outcomes for CAZ-AVI-treated patients as monotherapy and as an add-on to standard therapy for carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumonia (CRKP) OXA-48 infections to those treated with standard drugs. The study included CRKP OXA-48-like infected patients who were administered antibiotics for more than seven days from 1 August 2018 to May 2023. Patients' baseline characteristics and demography were extracted from the clinical records, and their clinical/microbiology efficiencies were assessed as per the corresponding definitions. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to identify the potential independent variable for CAZ-AVI efficiency. A total of 114 patient files were included for the evaluation. Among these patients, 64 used CAZ-AVI combined with standard therapy and were included in the intervention group, and 50 of them used standard therapy and were included in the comparative group. Following analysis, CAZ-AVI's clinical success was 42.2% (p = 0.028), while the intervention versus comparative groups showed decreased 30-day all-cause mortality (50.0% versus 70.0%; p = 0.036) and infection recurrence (7.8% versus 24.0%; p = 0.019), as well as substantially increased rates of microbial eradication (68.8% versus 42.0%; p = 0.007). CAZ-AVI add-on therapy rather than monotherapy showed statistically significant favored clinical and microbial outcomes over the standard therapy. Furthermore, sex (female %), ICU admission, and fever were negatively associated with patients' 30-day all-cause mortality, serving as independent negative factors. Only fever, CRP bio levels, inotropes, and ICU admissions were significant predictors influencing the CAZ-AVI's clinical efficiency. The duration of CAZ-AVI therapy positively influenced CAZ-AVI's microbial eradication, while both WBC counts and fever experiences were negative predictors. This study shows the effective usage of CAZ-AVI against CRKP OXA-48-like infections. The influencing independent variables depicted here should recommend that clinicians individualize the CAZ-AVI dose based on co-existing risk factors to achieve optimal survival and efficacy. Prospective multicenter and randomized control studies are recommended, with individualized CAZ-AVI precision administration implemented based on patients' characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the MBT-ASTRA to determine susceptibility to ceftazidime/avibactam (CZA) and meropenem (MEM) of Enterobacterales directly from positive blood cultures (BC). Bacterial suspension was incubated with antibiotic and analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS. The relative growth was calculated and cutoff values were determined to categorize isolates as "S," "I," and "R." Klebsiella spp. with CZA 20/8 mg/L and 1.5-h incubation presented 1 (5.9%) major discrepancy and 96.3% category agreement; other species required 2.5 h for 100% category agreement. For MEM, 4 mg/L and 1.5h were necessary, demonstrating 2 (6.67%) minor discrepancies and 93.3% categorical agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we present two cases of Klebsiella pneumoniae, one KPC-33- and one NDM-1-producing, showing resistance to cefiderocol and ceftazidime/avibactam, collected in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Northern Italy from two patients who had recently undergone lung transplantation. Whole-genome sequencing was performed to investigate the molecular features of these strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: New combinations of old β-lactam drugs with novel β-lactamase inhibitors, approved in recent years by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency, are a promising alternative for the treatment of infections caused by multidrug-resistant strains. Due to limited availability and increasing resistance to antibacterial drugs, they should be used with caution, especially in patients with limited treatment options. It should be noted that both diazobicycloctane and boron inhibitors are inactive against metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) producing strains. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro susceptibility of carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacilli to meropenem/vaborbactam, imipenem/relebactam and ceftazidime/avibactam in clinical samples from hospitalized patients. Materials and methods: The analysis included 102 clinical strains of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales and nonfermenters from hospital centers in Łódź, Poland. A minimum inhibitory concentration test strip method was used to determine antimicrobial susceptibility. Results: Seventy-one percent of Escherichia coli, 40% of Klebsiella pneumoniae, and 67% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were resistant to meropenem/vaborbactam, 57%, 66%, and 60% to imipenem/relebactam, and 71%, 74%, and 60% to ceftazidime/avibactam, respectively. Considering carbapenemase resistance mechanisms, the highest efficacy was observed in Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases (KPC) strains for each drug combination tested. Conclusions: The results of our study confirm the conclusions of the studies evaluating the susceptibility of Gram-negative, fermenting, and non-fermenting bacilli to ceftazidime/avibactam, meropenem/vaborbactam and imipenem/relebactam and indicate that there are reasonable grounds for using these antibiotics in the treatment of patients hospitalized with serious infections. However, limitations in their use against MBL-producing strains are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Resistance to ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA) due to Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) variants is increasing worldwide. We characterized two CZA-resistant clinical Klebsiella pneumoniae strains by antimicrobial susceptibility test, conjugation assays, and WGS. Isolates belonged to ST258 and ST45, and produced a KPC-31 and a novel variant KPC-197, respectively. The novel KPC variant presents a deletion of two amino acids on the Ω-loop (del_168–169_EL) and an insertion of two amino acids in position 274 (Ins_274_DS). Continued surveillance of KPC variants conferring CZA resistance in Colombia is warranted.IMPORTANCELatin America and the Caribbean is an endemic region for carbapenemases. Increasingly high rates of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) have established ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA) as an essential antimicrobial for the treatment of infections due to MDR Gram-negative pathogens. Although other countries in the region have reported the emergence of CZA-resistant KPC variants, this is the first description of such enzymes in Colombia. This finding warrants active surveillance, as dissemination of these variants could have devastating public health consequences.

Introduction: Infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) pose a significant clinical challenge due to increasing antibiotic resistance. This study analyzes the effectiveness of ceftazidime/avibactam treatment for KPC infections, focusing on 30-day mortality and comparing results with control groups treated with different antibiotics. Material and methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of six cohort studies, comparing thirty-day mortality in patients treated with ceftazidime/avibactam with control groups using other antibiotics. The studies included patients infected with KPC, and the analysis focused on therapeutic effectiveness. Aim of the study: The aim of the study is to compare the results in terms of 30-day mortality in groups treated with ceftazidime/avibactam compared to control groups using different antibiotics. Conclusions: Data analysis from various studies revealed varied 30-day mortality outcomes in groups treated with ceftazidime/avibactam compared to control groups using different antibiotics. Ceftazidime/avibactam proved to be more effective in all studies, reducing mortality rates compared to other treatment regimens. We emphasize that emerging antibiotic resistance, especially in the case of KPC, requires a comprehensive therapeutic approach. Despite promising ceftazidime/avibactam results, factors such as overall patient health and treatment delays may influence final therapy outcomes. We also highlight controversies regarding combination therapy vs. monotherapy, necessitating further research. Our work underscores the importance of monitoring the effectiveness of KPC infection treatment and exploring new therapeutic strategies. Further clinical studies are essential to develop a fuller understanding and optimal therapeutic protocols in the face of the growing antibiotic resistance problem.

Gram-negative bacteria have been one of the most studied classes in the field of microbiology, especially in the context of globally alarming antimicrobial resistance levels to these pathogens over the course of the past decades. With high numbers of these microorganisms being described as multidrug-resistant (MDR), or even extended-drug-resistant (XDR) bacteria, specialists in the field have been struggling to keep up with higher prevalence of difficult-to-treat infections caused by such superbugs. The FDA approval of novel antimicrobials, such as cefiderocol (FDC), ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T), ceftazidime/avibactam (CZA), imipenem/relebactam (IMR), sulbactam/durlobactam (SUL-DUR) and phase 3 clinical trials’ results of aztreonam/avibactam (ATM-AVI) has proven that, while all these substances provide encouraging efficacy rates, antibiotic resistance keeps up with the pace of drug development. Microorganisms have developed more extensive mechanisms of resistance in order to target the threat posed by these novel antimicrobials, thus equiring researchers to be on a constant lookout for other potential drug candidates and molecule development. However, these strategies require a proper understanding of bacterial resistance mechanisms to gain a comprehensive outlook on the issue. The present review aims to highlight these six antibiotic agents, which have brought hope to clinicians during the past decade, discussing general properties of these substances, as well as mechanisms and patterns of resistance, while also providing a short overview on further directions in the field.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/#searchadvanced, Identifier CRD42024505832.

Abstract Objective To evaluate effect of inoculum size of extended-spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL)-producing-, AmpC-producing-, and KPC-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae on the in vitro antibacterial effects of imipenem/relebactam (IMR) and ceftazidime/avibactam (CZA). Methods We compared the impact of inoculum size on IMR and CZA of sixteen clinical isolates and three standard isolates through antimicrobial susceptibility tests, time-kill assays and in vitro PK/PD studies. Results When inoculum size increased from 105 to 107 CFU/mL, an inoculum effect was observed for 26.3% (5/19) and 52.6% (10/19) of IMR and CZA, respectively; time-kill assays revealed that the concentration of CZA increased from ≥ 4 × MIC to 16 × MIC to reach 99.9% killing rate against K. pneumoniae ATCC-BAA 1705 (KPC-2-, OXA-9- and SHV-182-producing) and 60,700 (SHV-27- and DHA-1-producing). While for IMR, a concentration from 1 × MIC to 4 × MIC killed 99.9% of the four strains. When the inoculum size increased to 109 CFU/mL, neither IMR nor CZA showed a detectable antibacterial effect, even at a high concentration. An in vitro PK/PD study revealed a clear bactericidal effect when IMR administered as 1.25 g q6h when inoculum size increased. Conclusion An inoculum effect on CZA was observed more frequent than that on IMR. Among the β-lactamase-producing strains, the inoculum effect was most common for SHV-producing and KPC-producing strains.

ABSTRACT: Objectives: Ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI) combines ceftazidime and a reversible β-lactamase inhibitor that has shown activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Enterobacterales and P. aeruginosa. Using data from the Antimicrobial Testing Leadership and Surveillance program (ATLAS), this study examined the in vitro antimicrobial activity of CAZ-AVI and other antibiotics against Gram-negative bacteria collected from Chilean hospitals between 2015 and 2021. Methods: Clinical isolates of Enterobacterales and P. aeruginosa were collected from three medical centres in Chile. Blood, abdominal fluid, urine, soft tissues, and respiratory tract samples were obtained from infected patients. Minimum inhibitory concentrations using the broth microdilution method were determined for susceptibility testing, and the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) breakpoints were used for interpreting the results. Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) and carbapenemase genes were also detected through polymerase chain reaction. Results: A total of 2600 Enterobacterales and 836 P. aeruginosa were analysed. CAZ-AVI was the antibiotic with the highest in vitro activity against Enterobacterales (99.72%). The incidence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) was 1.5% (n = 39), and the antibiotics with the best in vitro activity were tigecycline (92.31%), CAZ-AVI (88.57%), and amikacin (79.49%). CAZ-AVI was the antibiotic with the best activity against ESBL-producing Enterobacterales (99.34%) and MDR Enterobacterales (99.31%). For KPC-producing Enterobacterales, susceptibility to amikacin was 100%, whereas susceptibility to CAZ-AVI was 91.67%. Regarding MDR and difficult-to-treat resistance P. aeruginosa, 44.83% and 38.99% were susceptible to CAZ-AVI, respectively. Conclusion: CAZ-AVI shows excellent in vitro activity against Enterobacterales in general, CRE, ESBL-producing Enterobacterales, and KPC-producing Enterobacterales. CAZ-AVI is also an option against MDR P. aeruginosa.

Abstract Background The rapid global emergence and spread of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacilli (CR-GNB) is recognized as a major public health concern, and there are currently few effective treatments for CR-GNB infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with CR-GNB infections treated with ceftazidime/avibactam (CAZ/AVI) combined with colistin from October 2019 to February 2023 in China. Methods A total of 31 patients with CR-GNB infections were retrospectively identified using the electronic medical record system of Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital. Results Thirty-one patients were treated with CAZ/AVI combined with colistin. Respiratory tract infections (87%) were most common. The common drug-resistant bacteria encompass Klebsiella pneumonia (54.8%), Acinetobacter baumannii (29.0%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (16.1%). The 30-day mortality rate was 29.0%, and the 7-day microbial clearance rate was 64.5%. The inflammatory marker CRP changes, but not PCT and WBC, were statistically significant on days 7 and 14 after combination therapy. There were seven patients developing acute renal injury (AKI) after combination therapy and treating with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Two patients developed diarrhea. Conclusion The combination of CAZ/AVI and colistin has potential efficacy in patients with CR-GNB infection, but more studies are needed to determine whether it can reduce 30-day mortality rates and increase 7-day microbial clearance. At the same time, the adverse reactions of combination therapy should not be ignored.

Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and ventilation-associated pneumonia (VAP) are challenging clinical conditions due to the challenging tissue penetrability of the lung. This study aims to evaluate the potential role of fosfomycin (FOS) associated with ceftazidime/avibactam (CZA) in improving the outcome in this setting. We performed a retrospective study including people with HAP or VAP treated with CZA or CZA+FOS for at least 72 h. Clinical data were collected from the SUSANA study, a multicentric cohort to monitor the efficacy and safety of the newer antimicrobial agents. A total of 75 nosocomial pneumonia episodes were included in the analysis. Of these, 34 received CZA alone and 41 in combination with FOS (CZA+FOS). People treated with CZA alone were older, more frequently male, received a prolonged infusion more frequently, and were less frequently affected by carbapenem-resistant infections (p = 0.01, p = 0.06, p < 0.001, p = 0.03, respectively). No difference was found in terms of survival at 28 days from treatment start between CZA and CZA+FOS at the multivariate analysis (HR = 0.32; 95% CI = 0.07–1.39; p = 0.128), while prolonged infusion showed a lower mortality rate at 28 days (HR = 0.34; 95% CI = 0.14–0.96; p = 0.04). Regarding safety, three adverse events (one acute kidney failure, one multiorgan failure, and one urticaria) were reported. Our study found no significant association between combination therapy and mortality. Further investigations, with larger and more homogeneous samples, are needed to evaluate the role of combination therapy in this setting.

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance is a growing problem that necessitates the development of new therapeutic options. Cefiderocol and aztreonam (AT) are often the last active β-lactams for treating metallo-β-lactamases (MBL)-producing Gram-negative bacilli. In these difficult-to-treat bacterial strains, AT resistance is frequently attributed to the co-occurrence of other resistance mechanisms. In the case of β-lactamases they can often be inhibited by avibactam. In the present study, we evaluated the use of the double-disc synergy test (DDST) as a screening tool for the detection of synergy between AT-avibactam (ATA). We validated both the Gradient Diffusion Strips (GDSs) superposition method and the commercially available Liofilchem’s ATA GDS. Materials and methods: We tested AT susceptibility in combination with ceftazidime-avibactam for 65 strains, including 18 Serine-β-Lactamase (SBL)- and 24 MBL-producing Enterobacterales, 12 MBL-producing P. aeruginosa, and 11 S. maltophilia isolates. Interpretation was done with EUCAST breakpoints (version 13.0), AT breakpoints being used for ATA. The accuracy and validity of the GDSs superposition method and ATA GDS were evaluated using an AT GDS applied on Mueller Hinton Agar plates supplemented with avibactam (MH-AV). A DDST was performed to screen for synergy between antibiotic combinations. Results: Using MH-AV, all SBL- and MBL-positive Enterobacterales were susceptible or susceptible at increased exposure to the combination AT-avibactam. In contrast, only 2 out of the 12 (17%) P. aeruginosa strains and 9/11 (82%) of the S. maltophilia strains were susceptible- or susceptible at increased exposure for the combination of AT-avibactam. The DDST detected all synergies, demonstrating a 100% sensitivity and 100% negative predictive value for all bacterial strains. Conclusion: The DDST is a sensitive tool for screening for antibiotic synergy. Unlike S. maltophilia and SBL- and MBL-positive Enterobacterales, most MBLpositive P. aeruginosa strains remain resistant to AT-avibactam. ATA GDS should be preferred for MIC determination of the AT-avibactam combination, while the GDSs superposition method can be used as an alternative to the commercial test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate effect of inoculum size of extended-spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL)-producing-, AmpC-producing-, and KPC-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae on the in vitro antibacterial effects of imipenem/relebactam (IMR) and ceftazidime/avibactam (CZA). Methods: We compared the impact of inoculum size on IMR and CZA of sixteen clinical isolates and three standard isolates through antimicrobial susceptibility tests, time-kill assays and in vitro PK/PD studies. Results: When inoculum size increased from 105 to 107 CFU/mL, an inoculum effect was observed for 26.3% (5/19) and 52.6% (10/19) of IMR and CZA, respectively; time-kill assays revealed that the concentration of CZA increased from ≥ 4 × MIC to 16 × MIC to reach 99.9% killing rate against K. pneumoniae ATCC-BAA 1705 (KPC-2-, OXA-9- and SHV-182-producing) and 60,700 (SHV-27- and DHA-1-producing). While for IMR, a concentration from 1 × MIC to 4 × MIC killed 99.9% of the four strains. When the inoculum size increased to 109 CFU/mL, neither IMR nor CZA showed a detectable antibacterial effect, even at a high concentration. An in vitro PK/PD study revealed a clear bactericidal effect when IMR administered as 1.25 g q6h when inoculum size increased. Conclusion: An inoculum effect on CZA was observed more frequent than that on IMR. Among the β-lactamase-producing strains, the inoculum effect was most common for SHV-producing and KPC-producing strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ceftazidime/avibactam (CZA) is an effective alternative for the treatment of infections caused by KPC-producing carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP). However, KPC variants with CZA resistance have been observed in clinical isolates, further limiting the treatment options of clinical use. Methods: In this study, we isolated three KPC-14-producing CRKP from two patients in intensive care units without CZA therapy. The antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using the broth microdilution method. Three CRKP were subjected to whole-genome sequencing to analyze the phylogenetic relatedness and the carriage of antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors. Long-read sequencing was also performed to obtain the complete sequences of the plasmids. The horizontal transfer of the blaKPC-14 gene was evaluated by conjugation experiments. Results: Three CRKP displayed resistance or reduced susceptibility to ceftazidime/avibactam, colistin, and tigecycline. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis demonstrated the close phylogenetic distance between these strains. A highly similar IncFII/IncR plasmid encoding blaKPC-14 was shared by three CRKP, with blaKPC-14 located in an NTEKPC-Ib element with the core region of ISKpn27-blaKPC-14-ISKpn6. This structure containing blaKPC-14 was also observed in another tet(A)-carrying plasmid that belonged to an unknown Inc-type in two out of three isolates. The horizontal transferability of these integrated plasmids to Escherichia coli EC600 was confirmed by the cotransmission of tet(A) and blaKPC-14 genes, but the single transfer of blaKPC-14 on the IncFII/IncR plasmid failed. Three CRKP expressed yersiniabactin and carried a hypervirulence plasmid encoding rmpA2 and aerobactin-related genes, and were thus classified as carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKP). Discussion: In this study, we reported the evolution of a mosaic plasmid encoding the blaKPC-14 gene via mobile elements in extensively drug-resistant hvKP. The blaKPC-14 gene is prone to integrate into other conjugative plasmids via the NTEKPC-Ib element, further facilitating the spread of ceftazidime/avibactam resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The rapid global emergence and spread of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacilli (CR-GNB) is recognized as a major public health concern, and there are currently few effective treatments for CR-GNB infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with CR-GNB infections treated with ceftazidime/avibactam (CAZ/AVI) combined with colistin from October 2019 to February 2023 in China. Methods: A total of 31 patients with CR-GNB infections were retrospectively identified using the electronic medical record system of Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital. Results: Thirty-one patients were treated with CAZ/AVI combined with colistin. Respiratory tract infections (87%) were most common. The common drug-resistant bacteria encompass Klebsiella pneumonia (54.8%), Acinetobacter baumannii (29.0%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (16.1%). The 30-day mortality rate was 29.0%, and the 7-day microbial clearance rate was 64.5%. The inflammatory marker CRP changes, but not PCT and WBC, were statistically significant on days 7 and 14 after combination therapy. There were seven patients developing acute renal injury (AKI) after combination therapy and treating with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Two patients developed diarrhea. Conclusion: The combination of CAZ/AVI and colistin has potential efficacy in patients with CR-GNB infection, but more studies are needed to determine whether it can reduce 30-day mortality rates and increase 7-day microbial clearance. At the same time, the adverse reactions of combination therapy should not be ignored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceftazidime/avibactam is an important option for the treatment of infections caused by multidrug‐resistant gram‐negative bacteria. Haematological abnormalities are rare adverse events. We describe a case of a 63‐year‐old male who developed severe neutropenia following exposure to ceftazidime/avibactam in the intensive care unit for the treatment of abdominal infections. Six days after ceftazidime/avibactam was prescribed, the patient experienced a sheer drop in absolute neutrophil count, down to a minimum of 0.13 × 109/L. A bone marrow examination showed neutrophilic maturation arrest. After careful screening of all drugs used by the patient and other potential causes of severe neutropenia, ceftazidime/avibactam was suspected to be the most likely culprit and was therefore replaced by cefoperazone/sulbactam, while a dose of colony‐stimulating factor was given. The next day, neutrophils rose to 3.64 × 109/L. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of severe neutropenia associated with ceftazidime/avibactam. When neutropenia occurs during treatment, the clinician should keep this possibility in mind. Regular monitoring of neutrophil counts for timely recognition, immediate discontinuation of the drug and substitution of antibiotics are key steps in management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic resistance in uropathogens has increased substantially and severely affected treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Lately, some new formulations, including meropenem/vaborbactam (MEV), ceftazidime/avibactam (CZA), and ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T) have been introduced to treat infections caused by drug-resistant pathogens. This study was designed to screen Enterobacteriales isolates from UTI patients and to assess their antimicrobial resistance pattern, particularly against the mentioned (new) antibiotics. Phenotypic screening of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenem resistance was followed by inhibitor-based assays to detect K. pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC), metallo-β-lactamase (MBL), and class D oxacillinases (OXA). Among 289 Enterobacteriales, E. coli (66.4%) was the most predominant pathogen, followed by K. pneumoniae (13.8%) and P. mirabilis (8.3%). The isolates showed higher resistance to penicillins and cephalosporins (70–87%) than to non-β-lactam antimicrobials (33.2–41.5%). NDM production was a common feature among carbapenem-resistant (CR) isolates, followed by KPC and OXA. ESBL producers were susceptible to the tested new antibiotics, but NDM-positive isolates appeared resistant to these combinations. KPC-producers showed resistance to only C/T. ESBLs and carbapenemase encoding genes were located on plasmids and most of the genes were successfully transferred to recipient cells. This study revealed that MEV and CZA had significant activity against ESBL and KPC producers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACTCeftazidime-avibactam (CZA) therapy has significantly improved survival rates for patients infected by carbapenem-resistant bacteria, including KPC producers. However, resistance to CZA is a growing concern, attributed to multiple mechanisms. In this study, we characterized four clinical CZA-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates obtained between July 2019 and December 2020. These isolates expressed novel allelic variants of blaKPC-2 resulting from changes in hotspots of the mature protein, particularly in loops surrounding the active site of KPC. Notably, KPC-80 had an K269_D270insPNK mutation near the Lys270-loop, KPC-81 had a del_I173 mutation within the Ω-loop, KPC-96 showed a Y241N substitution within the Val240-loop and KPC-97 had an V277_I278insNSEAV mutation within the Lys270-loop. Three of the four isolates exhibited low-level resistance to imipenem (4 µg/mL), while all remained susceptible to meropenem. Avibactam and relebactam effectively restored carbapenem susceptibility in resistant isolates. Cloning mutant blaKPC genes into pMBLe increased imipenem MICs in recipient Escherichia coli TOP10 for blaKPC-80, blaKPC-96, and blaKPC-97 by two dilutions; again, these MICs were restored by avibactam and relebactam. Frameshift mutations disrupted ompK35 in three isolates. Additional resistance genes, including blaTEM-1, blaOXA-18 and blaOXA-1, were also identified. Interestingly, three isolates belonged to clonal complex 11 (ST258 and ST11) and one to ST629. This study highlights the emergence of CZA resistance including unique allelic variants of blaKPC-2 and impermeability. Comprehensive epidemiological surveillance and in-depth molecular studies are imperative for understanding and monitoring these complex resistance mechanisms, crucial for effective antimicrobial treatment strategies.IMPORTANCEThe emergence of ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA) resistance poses a significant threat to the efficacy of this life-saving therapy against carbapenem-resistant bacteria, particularly Klebsiella pneumoniae-producing KPC enzymes. This study investigates four clinical isolates exhibiting resistance to CZA, revealing novel allelic variants of the key resistance gene, blaKPC-2. The mutations identified in hotspots surrounding the active site of KPC, such as K269_D270insPNK, del_I173, Y241N and V277_I278insNSEAV, prove the adaptability of these pathogens. Intriguingly, low-level resistance to imipenem and disruptions in porin genes were observed, emphasizing the complexity of the resistance mechanisms. Interestingly, three of four isolates belonged to clonal complex 11. This research not only sheds light on the clinical significance of CZA resistance but also shows the urgency for comprehensive surveillance and molecular studies to inform effective antimicrobial treatment strategies in the face of evolving bacterial resistance.

ABSTRACT Rational combination therapy offers a valuable option to increase efficacy and prevent emergence of resistance. Therefore, this study provides a translational pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analysis of the synergy of /avibactam and fosfomycin in a clinical Escherichia coli strain expressing extended spectrum beta-lactamase (CTX-M-15 and TEM-4) and carbapenemase (OXA-244) genes. Detailed static time-kill experiments primed dynamic hollow fiber studies mimicking mono- and combination therapies with doses of ceftazidime/avibactam ranging from 0.06/0.015 to 2/0.5 g every 8 h (q8h) and doses of fosfomycin ranging from 0.125 to 6 g q8h. The drug effects and interactions were quantitatively evaluated by pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling using semi-mechanistic and subpopulation synergy. A pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model describing the effects of ceftazidime, avibactam, and fosfomycin and their synergy was developed from the static time-kill experiments and hollow fiber studies. Simulations revealed that combined doses as low as 0.5-g q8h fosfomycin and 0.25-/0.06-g q8h ceftazidime/avibactam lead to suppression of the bacterial count. Conversely, in monotherapy, substantially higher doses by a factor of 12 for fosfomycin (6 g q8h) or by a factor of 6 for ceftazidime/avibactam (1.5/0.375 g q8h) were needed to achieve a comparable killing over 72 h. The combination of ceftazidime/avibactam and fosfomycin was therefore shown to be highly synergistic and suppressed the emergence of resistances. Clinical evaluations of potential dose reductions or the possibility to treat strains with high-level resistance with this combination are warranted. IMPORTANCE Mechanistic understanding of pharmacodynamic interactions is key for the development of rational antibiotic combination therapies to increase efficacy and suppress the development of resistances. Potent tools to provide those insights into pharmacodynamic drug interactions are semi-mechanistic modeling and simulation techniques. This study uses those techniques to provide a detailed understanding with regard to the direction and strength of the synergy of ceftazidime-avibactam and ceftazidime-fosfomycin in a clinical Escherichia coli isolate expressing extended spectrum beta-lactamase (CTX-M-15 and TEM-4) and carbapenemase (OXA-244) genes. Enhanced killing effects in combination were identified as a driver of the synergy and were translated from static time-kill experiments into the dynamic hollow fiber infection model. These findings in combination with a suppression of the emergence of resistance in combination emphasize a potential clinical benefit with regard to increased efficacy or to allow for dose reductions with maintained effect sizes to avoid toxicity.

Abstract Introduction This study aimed to evaluate the different efficacies between monotherapy and combination therapy with ceftazidime/avibactam (CAZ/AVI) in treating carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) infection. Methods We retrospectively analyzed observational multicenter data from 38 hospitals in China. Multivariate regression analysis was used to explore the association between combination therapy with CAZ/AVI and in-hospital mortality. Propensity score matching (PSM) and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) were performed to validate our findings. Results A total of 132 eligible patients were divided into CAZ/AVI combination therapy (n = 43) and monotherapy (n = 89) cohorts. Multivariate logistic regression showed that there was no statistically significant relationship between combination therapy and a lower risk of in-hospital mortality [odds ratio (OR) 0.907, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.329–2.498, p = 0.850]. In the subgroup of critical patients who were in the intensive care unit (ICU) (OR 0.943, 95% CI 0.221–4.033, p = 0.937) or with sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) ≥ 3 (OR 0.733, 95% CI 0.191–2.808, p = 0.650), CAZ/AVI combination therapy was not a lower risk factor for in-hospital mortality. Moreover, in the subgroup of patients using CAZ/AVI plus tigecycline (accounting for 46.5% in the combination therapy) compared with CAZ/AVI monotherapy, there was no statistical difference between the two groups in in-hospital mortality, nor in the subgroup of patients with CRKP-associated pneumonia. Conclusion Combination therapy (or CAZ/AVI combined with tigecycline) and monotherapy with CAZ/AVI had similar prognoses in patients with only CRKP infection (or CRKP-associated pneumonia), as well as in critically ill patients. Larger randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm these findings.

We analyzed consecutive clinical cases of infections due to carbapenemase-producing gram-negative bacteria detected in war-wounded patients from Ukraine who were treated at one university medical center in southwest Germany between June and December 2022. The isolates of multiresistant gram-negative bacteria were subjected to a thorough microbiological characterization and whole genome sequencing (WGS). We identified five war-wounded Ukrainian patients who developed infections with New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase 1-positive Klebsiella pneumoniae. Two isolates also carried OXA-48 carbapenemases. The bacteria were resistant to novel antibiotics, such as ceftazidime/avibactam and cefiderocol. The used treatment strategies included combinations of ceftazidime/avibactam + aztreonam, colistin, or tigecycline. WGS suggested transmission during primary care in Ukraine. We conclude that there is an urgent need for thorough surveillance of multiresistant pathogens in patients from war zones.

We evaluated the activities of aztreonam/avibactam and recently approved β-lactamase inhibitor combinations (BLICs) to compare the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU patients. Clinical isolates (1/patient) were consecutively collected from 72 United States medical centres in 2020–2022 and susceptibility tested by broth microdilution. The results for 5421 isolates from ICU patients were analysed and compared to those for 20,649 isolates from non-ICU patients. Isolates from ventilator-associated pneumonia patients were analysed separately. Aztreonam/avibactam inhibited 100.0%/>99.9% Enterobacterales and 100.0%/98.3% of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) from ICU/non-ICU patients at ≤8 mg/L, respectively. The CRE susceptibility rates were 88.5%/82.9% for ceftazidime/avibactam, 82.1%/81.2% for meropenem/vaborbactam, and 78.2%/72.6% for imipenem/relebactam among ICU/non-ICU isolates. Among the P. aeruginosa isolates from ICU/non-ICU patients, the susceptibility rates were 96.3%/97.6% for ceftazidime/avibactam, 97.2/98.4% for ceftolozane/tazobactam, 97.1%/98.0% for imipenem/relebactam, 77.8%/84.6% for piperacillin/tazobactam, and 76.9%/85.8% for meropenem; aztreonam/avibactam inhibited 78.0%/81.9% of P. aeruginosa at ≤8 mg/L. In summary, lower susceptibility rates were observed among ICU than non-ICU isolates. Aztreonam/avibactam exhibited potent in vitro activity and broad-spectrum activity against Enterobacterales from ICU and non-ICU patients, including CRE and isolates non-susceptible to newer BLICs. Against P. aeruginosa, aztreonam/avibactam showed a spectrum of activity comparable to that of piperacillin/tazobactam, meropenem, and ceftazidime.

Abstract Background Carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative organisms (CRGNO) are a growing threat. We aimed in our study to determine the genotype of carbapenemases at Beni-Suef University Hospital by using newly introduced lateral flow assays in comparison with molecular techniques and test the effectiveness of ceftazidime/avibactam against them. Methods Screening for carbapenemase production was done by mSuperCARBA (CHROMagar™ company). Genotypic characterization was done using 3 different kits of lateral flow assays: the NG-Test CARBA5 assay (NG Biotech, Guipry, France), RESIST-3 O.K.N. (Coris BioConcept, Belgium) and Carbapenem-resistant K.N.I.V.O Detection K-Set (Beijing Gold Mountain river Tech Development Co, China), whereas genotypic characterization was done for blaVIM blaIMP, blaKPC, blaOXA-48, and blaNDM by PCR. Results The high prevalence of CRGNO in Beni-Suef University Hospital (29%) was dominated by Klebsiella pneumonia (83.3%) harboring OXA-48 (92%). Lateral flow immunoassays showed high sensitivity and specificity for each type of carbapenemases in comparison with PCR. Conclusion The coexistence of multiple carbapenemases genes in the same isolate increased resistance to new therapeutic options, e.g., CZA/AVI. Proper implementation of isolation measures in health care facilities can render the spread of CRGNO.

Objectives: Limited data on clinical and microbiological efficacy, patient mortality, and other associated factors are available for ceftazidime/avibactam (CAZ/AVI)-based regimens for carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (CR-GNB). This study aimed to assess these issues retrospectively using multicenter data. Methods: This multicenter study included CR-GNB infected patients treated with CAZ/AVI-based regimens for more than three days. Patient characteristics, bacterial culture reports, drug-sensitivity test results, and antibiotic use, including CAZ/AVI use, were extracted from the patient's clinical records. The clinical and microbiological efficacy of the combined drug regimen and patient mortality were evaluated according to corresponding definitions. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to explore the efficacy and mortality-related factors. Results: A total of 183 patients with CR-GNB infection were considered for the analysis according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. After the treatment of CAZ/AVI-based regimens, the clinical efficacy was 75.4 %. The 7-day microbial efficacy and clearance rate after treatment were 43.7 % and 66.0 %, respectively. Moreover, 30-day all-cause and in-hospital mortality were 11.5 % and 14.2 %, respectively. Harboring renal dysfunction (creatinine clearance rate (CCR) of

Youling Fang,1,2 Qiaoshi Zhong,1 Yanhui Chen,1 Yaping Hang,1 Xueyao Fang,1 Yanping Xiao,1 Xingwei Cao,1 Hongying Zhu,3 Hong Luo,1 Suqin Peng,1 Shumin Gu,1 Fuxing Li,1 Junqi Zhu,1 Jianqiu Xiong,4 Longhua Hu1 1Department of Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Medicine, Clinical Laboratory of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Public Health, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China; 3Clinical Laboratory of Ganzhou People’s Hospital, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Nursing, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Longhua Hu; Jianqiu Xiong, Email longhuahu@163.com; 1773014059@qq.comObjective: To analyze the clinical characteristics, outcomes, and risk factors of patients treated with ceftazidime/avibactam, polymyxin, or tigecycline (CPT) compared with those receiving a conventional therapy (CT) (ie, imipenem, levofloxacin, or gentamicin).Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort study included patients with carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infection (CRKP-BSI) treated at one Chinese tertiary hospital between March 2012 and November 2022 was performed. Clinical characteristics, outcomes, and risk factors of patients treated with CPT or CT were compared. Predictors of 30-day mortality of patients with CRKP-BSI were also analysed in our study.Results: Among 184 recruited patients with CRKP-BSI, 39.7% (73/184) were treated with CPT, while 60.3% (111/184) were treated with CT. Compared to patients treated with CT, patients treated with CPT had worse conditions, as evidenced by a higher rate of underlying diseases and invasive procedures; however, they also had a better prognosis and lower rates of 14-day treatment failure (p = 0.024). In addition, univariate analysis and multivariate analysis showed that SOFA score [odds ratio (OR) = 1.310, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.157– 1.483; p < 0.001] and cold weather (OR = 3.658, 95% CI 1.474– 9.081; p = 0.005) were independent risk factors for 30-day mortality.Conclusion: Compared to CRKP-BSI patients treated with CT, patients treated with CPT had worse conditions but better prognoses. CRKP-BSI occurred more frequently in hot weather; however, higher 30-day mortality was associated with cold weather. A randomized trial is needed to confirm these observational results.Keywords: carbapenem-resistantKlebsiella pneumoniae, polymyxin, tigecycline, ceftazidime/avibactam, bloodstream infection, hot weather, cold weather

Juan Chen,1,&ast; Qiqiang Liang,1,&ast; Shuo Ding,1 Yongshan Xu,1 Yanting Hu,1 Jingyu Chen,2,3 Man Huang1,3 1Department of General Intensive Care Unit, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China; 2Wuxi Lung Transplant Center, Wuxi People’s Hospital affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Lung Transplantation, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Man Huang, Department of General Intensive Care Unit, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China, Tel/Fax +86 571 89713427, Email huangman@zju.edu.cn Jingyu Chen, Wuxi Lung Transplant Center, Wuxi People’s Hospital affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China, Email chenjy@wuxiph.comBackground: Experience of ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ/AVI) for carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) infection in recipients after lung transplantation (LT) is relatively limited.Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on lung transplant recipients receiving CAZ/AVI therapy for CRPA infection. The primary outcomes were the 14-day and 30-day mortality. The secondary outcomes were clinical cure and microbiological cure.Results: Among 183 LT recipients, a total of 15 recipients with CRPA infection who received CAZ/AVI therapy were enrolled in this study. The mean age of recipients was 54 years and 73.3% of recipients were male. The median time from infection onset to initiation of CAZ/AVI treatment was 4 days (IQR, 3– 7) and the mean duration of CAZ/AVI therapy was 10 days. CAZ/AVI was mainly administered as monotherapy in LT recipients (80%). Among these eligible recipients, 14-day and 30-day mortality were 6.7% and 13.3%, respectively. The clinical cure and microbiological cure rates of CAZ/AVI therapy were 53.3% and 60%, respectively. Three recipients (20%) experienced recurrent infection. In addition, the mean lengths of ICU stay and hospital stay were 24 days and 35 days, respectively, among LT recipients.Conclusion: CAZ/AVI may be an alternative and promising regimen for CRPA eradiation in lung transplant recipients.Keywords: carbapenem-resistantPseudomonas aeruginosa, ceftazidime/avibactam, lung transplantation, infection, efficacy, mortality

IntroductionAntimicrobial resistance is a growing problem that necessitates the development of new therapeutic options. Cefiderocol and aztreonam (AT) are often the last active β-lactams for treating metallo-β-lactamases (MBL)-producing Gram-negative bacilli. In these difficult-to-treat bacterial strains, AT resistance is frequently attributed to the co-occurrence of other resistance mechanisms. In the case of β-lactamases they can often be inhibited by avibactam. In the present study, we evaluated the use of the double-disc synergy test (DDST) as a screening tool for the detection of synergy between AT-avibactam (ATA). We validated both the Gradient Diffusion Strips (GDSs) superposition method and the commercially available Liofilchem’s ATA GDS.Materials and methodsWe tested AT susceptibility in combination with ceftazidime-avibactam for 65 strains, including 18 Serine-β-Lactamase (SBL)- and 24 MBL-producing Enterobacterales, 12 MBL-producing P. aeruginosa, and 11 S. maltophilia isolates. Interpretation was done with EUCAST breakpoints (version 13.0), AT breakpoints being used for ATA. The accuracy and validity of the GDSs superposition method and ATA GDS were evaluated using an AT GDS applied on Mueller Hinton Agar plates supplemented with avibactam (MH-AV). A DDST was performed to screen for synergy between antibiotic combinations.ResultsUsing MH-AV, all SBL- and MBL-positive Enterobacterales were susceptible or susceptible at increased exposure to the combination AT-avibactam. In contrast, only 2 out of the 12 (17%) P. aeruginosa strains and 9/11 (82%) of the S. maltophilia strains were susceptible- or susceptible at increased exposure for the combination of AT-avibactam. The DDST detected all synergies, demonstrating a 100% sensitivity and 100% negative predictive value for all bacterial strains.ConclusionThe DDST is a sensitive tool for screening for antibiotic synergy. Unlike S. maltophilia and SBL- and MBL-positive Enterobacterales, most MBL-positive P. aeruginosa strains remain resistant to AT-avibactam. ATA GDS should be preferred for MIC determination of the AT-avibactam combination, while the GDSs superposition method can be used as an alternative to the commercial test.

IntroductionCeftazidime/avibactam (CZA) is an effective alternative for the treatment of infections caused by KPC-producing carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP). However, KPC variants with CZA resistance have been observed in clinical isolates, further limiting the treatment options of clinical use.MethodsIn this study, we isolated three KPC-14-producing CRKP from two patients in intensive care units without CZA therapy. The antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using the broth microdilution method. Three CRKP were subjected to whole-genome sequencing to analyze the phylogenetic relatedness and the carriage of antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors. Long-read sequencing was also performed to obtain the complete sequences of the plasmids. The horizontal transfer of the blaKPC-14 gene was evaluated by conjugation experiments.ResultsThree CRKP displayed resistance or reduced susceptibility to ceftazidime/avibactam, colistin, and tigecycline. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis demonstrated the close phylogenetic distance between these strains. A highly similar IncFII/IncR plasmid encoding blaKPC-14 was shared by three CRKP, with blaKPC-14 located in an NTEKPC-Ib element with the core region of ISKpn27- blaKPC-14-ISKpn6. This structure containing blaKPC-14 was also observed in another tet(A)-carrying plasmid that belonged to an unknown Inc-type in two out of three isolates. The horizontal transferability of these integrated plasmids to Escherichia coli EC600 was confirmed by the cotransmission of tet(A) and blaKPC-14 genes, but the single transfer of blaKPC-14 on the IncFII/IncR plasmid failed. Three CRKP expressed yersiniabactin and carried a hypervirulence plasmid encoding rmpA2 and aerobactin-related genes, and were thus classified as carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKP).DiscussionIn this study, we reported the evolution of a mosaic plasmid encoding the blaKPC-14 gene via mobile elements in extensively drug-resistant hvKP. The blaKPC-14 gene is prone to integrate into other conjugative plasmids via the NTEKPC-Ib element, further facilitating the spread of ceftazidime/avibactam resistance.

Background Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a leading cause of hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP). Novel β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor (BL/BLI) combinations are often used for these infections; however, limited data exist to guide the dosing of BL/BLI in patients who are morbidly obese. Thus, we sought to evaluate the clinical and safety endpoints of patients who are morbidly obese (body mass index ≥35 kg/m2) and non–morbidly obese (<35 kg/m2) and receiving BL/BLI for P aeruginosa HABP/VABP. Methods This retrospective study was based on a cohort of patients hospitalized at 2 urban academic medical centers in Detroit, Michigan, from August 2014 through February 2021 with P aeruginosa HABP/VABP who were receiving BL/BLI (ceftazidime/avibactam, ceftolozane/tazobactam, or meropenem/vaborbactam) for ≥72 continuous hours. The primary endpoint was presumed treatment failure, defined as the presence of all-cause in-hospital mortality or the continuation of infectious symptoms. Analyses were adjusted for possible confounding with inverse probability of treatment weighting. Multivariable regression was used to identify predictors of treatment failure. Results In total, 285 patients with HABP (61.4%) and/or VABP (56.1%) were enrolled (morbidly obese, n = 95; non–morbidly obese, n = 190). The median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was 23 (IQR, 13–26), and 60% of patients were admitted to the intensive care unit at index culture collection. Patients who were morbidly obese demonstrated significantly greater odds of presumed treatment failure vs those who were non–morbidly obese (58.9% vs 37.9%, respectively; adjusted odds ratio, 1.675 [95% CI, 1.465–1.979]). In multivariable analysis, morbid obesity (1.06; 95% CI, 1.02–1.79), prolonged time to BL/BLI initiation (1.47; 95% CI, 1.28–2.66), renal dose–adjusted BL/BLI in the first 48 hours of therapy (1.12; 95% CI, 1.09–1.75), and continuous renal replacement therapy during BL/BLI therapy (1.35; 95% CI, 1.06–1.68) were independently associated with increased odds of presumed treatment failure. Conclusions Among hospitalized patients receiving BL/BLI for P aeruginosa HABP/VABP, those who were morbidly obese had significantly greater odds of presumed treatment failure when compared with those who were non–morbidly obese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to investigate prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) blood culture isolates and their susceptibility to two new antibiotics, imipenem/relebactam and ceftazidime/avibactam. Out of 765 isolates recovered from blood cultures in a tertiary care hospital in Serbia between 2020 and 2023, 143 non-repetitive K. pneumoniae strains were included in this study. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the examined antimicrobial drugs was determined by VITEK 2 system, MIC test strip (imipenem/relebactam and ceftazidime/avibactam), and broth microdilution method (tigecycline and colistin). Carbapenemase-encoding genes (bla KPC, bla OXA-48-like, bla NDM, bla VIM, bla IMP) were detected using a multiplex-PCR assay, the BioFire-Blood Culture Identification 2-panel. This closed molecular assay is designed for the BioFire® FilmArray® system, enabling automated sample preparation, amplification, detection, and analysis (bioMérieux, France). Results revealed that K. pneumoniae was the most common isolate from blood cultures in 2022. The prevalence of K. pneumoniae was about 11.6% in 2020 and 2021, while in 2022 it raised to over 30%. Also, the frequency of CRKP increased from 11.76% in 2020, through 15.29% in 2021 to 72.94% in 2022. The majority of CRKP carried bla OXA-48-like (60.0%), followed by bla KPC (16.47%), and bla NDM (8.24%) genes, while 14.12% harboured both bla OXA-48-like and bla NDM genes. Only 25.88% of CRKP isolates were resistant to ceftazidime/avibactam, while 51.76% were resistant to imipenem/relebactam and colistin. The rapid spread of CRKP is particularly concerning because therapeutic options are limited to a few antibiotics. While imipenem/relebactam and colistin showed similar antimicrobial activity against CRKP clinical isolates, ceftazidime/avibactam proved to be the most effective antibiotic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) has been recognized as a significant concern globally. Ceftazidime/avibactam (CZA) is a novel β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor that has demonstrated activity against isolates producing class A, C, and D β-lactamases. Here-in, we evaluated the in vitro activity of CZA and comparator antimicrobial agents against 858 CRE isolates, arising from the Southeast Asian region, collected from a large tertiary hospital in Singapore. These CRE isolates mainly comprised Klebsiella pneumoniae (50.5%), Escherichia coli (29.4%), and Enterobacter cloacae complex (17.1%). Susceptibility rates to levofloxacin, imipenem, meropenem, doripenem, aztreonam, piperacillin/tazobactam, cefepime, tigecycline, and polymyxin B were low. CZA was the most active β-lactam agent against 68.9% of the studied isolates, while amikacin was the most active agent among all comparator antibiotics (80% susceptibility). More than half of the studied isolates (51.4%) identified were Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-2 producers, 25.9% were New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) producers, and Oxacillinase (OXA)-48-like producers made up 10.7%. CZA was the most active β-lactam agent against KPC-2, OXA-48-like, and Imipenemase (IMI) producers (99.3% susceptible; MIC50/90: ≤1/2 mg/L). CZA had excellent activity against the non-carbapenemase-producing CRE (91.4% susceptible; MIC50/90: ≤1/8 mg/L). Expectedly, CZA had no activity against the metallo-β-lactamases (MBL)-producing CRE (NDM- and Imipenemase MBL (IMP) producers; 27.2% isolates), and the carbapenemase co-producing CRE (NDM + KPC, NDM + OXA-48-like, NDM + IMP; 3.0% isolates). CZA is a promising addition to our limited armamentarium against CRE infections, given the reasonably high susceptibility rates against these CRE isolates. Careful stewardship and rational dosing regimens are required to preserve CZA's utility against CRE infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the different efficacies between monotherapy and combination therapy with ceftazidime/avibactam (CAZ/AVI) in treating carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) infection. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed observational multicenter data from 38 hospitals in China. Multivariate regression analysis was used to explore the association between combination therapy with CAZ/AVI and in-hospital mortality. Propensity score matching (PSM) and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) were performed to validate our findings. Results: A total of 132 eligible patients were divided into CAZ/AVI combination therapy (n = 43) and monotherapy (n = 89) cohorts. Multivariate logistic regression showed that there was no statistically significant relationship between combination therapy and a lower risk of in-hospital mortality [odds ratio (OR) 0.907, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.329–2.498, p = 0.850]. In the subgroup of critical patients who were in the intensive care unit (ICU) (OR 0.943, 95% CI 0.221–4.033, p = 0.937) or with sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) ≥ 3 (OR 0.733, 95% CI 0.191–2.808, p = 0.650), CAZ/AVI combination therapy was not a lower risk factor for in-hospital mortality. Moreover, in the subgroup of patients using CAZ/AVI plus tigecycline (accounting for 46.5% in the combination therapy) compared with CAZ/AVI monotherapy, there was no statistical difference between the two groups in in-hospital mortality, nor in the subgroup of patients with CRKP-associated pneumonia. Conclusion: Combination therapy (or CAZ/AVI combined with tigecycline) and monotherapy with CAZ/AVI had similar prognoses in patients with only CRKP infection (or CRKP-associated pneumonia), as well as in critically ill patients. Larger randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae is among the most common Gram-negative bacteria isolated to neonatal intensive care units (NICU) and one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. The ceftazidime/avibactam (CAZ-AVI) combination is approved for infections caused by aerobic Gram-negative organisms. It is licensed for use in infants over 3 months old. There are no safety and efficacy data regarding the administration of CAZ-AVI to infants younger than 3 months, except for a few case reports. Case presentation: This report describes a severely intoxicated 24-day-old, full-term, male neonate transferred to NICU level III from a secondary maternity hospital due to the deterioration of his general condition. On day four of admission, blood culture revealed the pan-drug-resistant (PDR) K. pneumoniae ss. pneumoniae, susceptible only to CAZ-AVI, which thus represented the only treatment option. Off-label CAZ-AVI was administered intravenously as a salvage therapy. Conclusions: In healthcare settings, treating resistant K. pneumoniae presents serious challenges, especially in NICU patients. The off-label treatment with CAZ-AVI for 17 days was safe and effective in this one-month-old patient. A year later, the patient was healthy with normal cognitive development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We identified multiple New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase 1 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in Ukrainian patients. • We detected isolates co-carrying OXA-48 and New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1 carbapenemases. • Treatment choices were limited by the occurrence of multiresistant co-infections. • Sequencing results suggest partial transmission during primary care in Ukraine. We analyzed consecutive clinical cases of infections due to carbapenemase-producing gram-negative bacteria detected in war-wounded patients from Ukraine who were treated at one university medical center in southwest Germany between June and December 2022. The isolates of multiresistant gram-negative bacteria were subjected to a thorough microbiological characterization and whole genome sequencing (WGS). We identified five war-wounded Ukrainian patients who developed infections with New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase 1-positive Klebsiella pneumoniae. Two isolates also carried OXA-48 carbapenemases. The bacteria were resistant to novel antibiotics, such as ceftazidime/avibactam and cefiderocol. The used treatment strategies included combinations of ceftazidime/avibactam + aztreonam, colistin, or tigecycline. WGS suggested transmission during primary care in Ukraine. We conclude that there is an urgent need for thorough surveillance of multiresistant pathogens in patients from war zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceftazidime/avibactam (CAZ/AVI) is an antibiotic combination approved for the treatment of several infections caused by multi-drug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria. Neonates admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are at high risk of developing bacterial infections, and the choice of appropriate antibiotics is crucial. However, the use of antibiotics in neonates carries risks such as antibiotic resistance and disruption of gut microbiota. This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of CAZ/AVI in preterm infants admitted to the NICU. Retrospective data from preterm infants with Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia who received CAZ/AVI were analyzed. Clinical and microbiological responses, adverse events, and outcomes were evaluated. Eight patients were included in the study, all of whom showed clinical improvement and achieved microbiological cure with CAZ/AVI treatment. No adverse drug reactions were reported. Previous antibiotic therapies failed to improve the neonates' condition, and CAZ/AVI was initiated based on clinical deterioration and epidemiological considerations. The median duration of CAZ/AVI treatment was 14 days, and combination therapy with fosfomycin or amikacin was administered. Previous case reports have also shown positive outcomes with CAZ/AVI in neonates. However, larger trials are needed to further investigate the safety and efficacy of CAZ/AVI in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]