Evaluation of ceftazidime/avibactam for serious infections due to multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa

• Published in: Journal of global antimicrobial resistance. Vol. 15; pp. 136 - 139
• Main Authors: Rodríguez-Núñez, Olga, Ripa, Marco, Morata, Laura, de la Calle, Cristina, Cardozo, Celia, Fehér, Csaba, Pellicé, Martina, Valcárcel, Andrea, Puerta-Alcalde, Pedro, Marco, Francesc, García-Vidal, Carolina, del Río, Ana, Soriano, Alex, Martínez-Martínez, Jose Antonio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2018
• Subjects: Ceftazidime/avibactam; Extensively drug-resistant; Multidrug-resistant; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Multidrug-resistant; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Extensively drug-resistant; Ceftazidime/avibactam
• ISSN: 2213-7165; 2213-7173
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jgar.2018.07.010

The steady progress in resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) has led to difficulties in treating infections due to multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains. Ceftazidime/avibactam (CAZ/AVI) has in vitro activity against many of these strains, however clinical experience with CAZ/AVI is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of eight patients with infections due to MDR- or XDR-PA treated with CAZ/AVI, including four strains resistant to ceftolozane/tazobactam.
This was a retrospective descriptive study of patients admitted to a teaching hospital between January 2016 and May 2017 who received CAZ/AVI as initial or continuation therapy for infection due to MDR- and XDR-PA.
The sources of infection were hospital-acquired lower respiratory tract infection in five patients (62.5%) and osteomyelitis, meningitis and catheter-related bacteraemia in one patient each. Clinical cure was achieved in 4 patients (50.0%). The 30-day and 90-day mortality rates were 12.5% and 37.5%, respectively. One patient (12.5%) developed encephalopathy that improved with discontinuation of the drug.
CAZ/AVI may be a valuable option for serious infections due to resistant PA.
•Infection due to multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a serious public-health problem worldwide.•Newly developed ceftazidime/avibactam is known to be active against a high proportion of MDR and XDR P. aeruginosa.•Clinical experience on the potential efficacy of ceftazidime/avibactam in MDR and XDR P. aeruginosa infections is scarce.