In vitro activity of cefepime-taniborbactam against carbapenemase producing Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates recovered in Spain

Novel β-lactam-β-lactamase inhibitor combinations currently approved for clinical use are poorly active against metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-producing strains. We evaluated the in vitro activity of cefepime-taniborbactam (FTB, formerly cefepime/VNRX-5133) and comparator agents against carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (n=247) and carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas spp. (n=170) clinical isolates prospectively collected from different clinical origin in patients admitted to 8 Spanish hospitals. FTB was the most active agent in both Enterobacterales (97.6% MIC FTB ≤8/4 mg/L) and Pseudomonas populations (67.1% MIC FTB ≤8/4 mg/L). MIC FTB was >8 mg/L in 6/247 (2.4%) Enterobacterales isolates (3 KPC- Klebsiella pneumoniae , 1 VIM- Enterobacter cloacae , 1 IMP- E. cloacae and 1 NDM- Escherichia coli ) and in 56/170 (32.9%) Pseudomonas spp., 19 of them carbapenemase producers (15 VIM, 2 GES, 1 GES+VIM, 1 GES+KPC). Against the Enterobacterales isolates with meropenem MIC>2 mg/L (138/247), FTB was the most active agent against both serine-β-lactamases (107/138) and MBL producers (31/138) (97.2% and 93.5% MIC FTB ≤8/4 mg/L, respectively) whereas the activity of comparators was reduced, particularly against the MBL producers (ceftazidime-avibactam, 94.4% and 12.9%; meropenem-vaborbactam, 85.0% and 64.5%; imipenem-relebactam, 76.6% and 9.7%; ceftolozane-tazobactam, 1.9% and 0%; piperacillin-tazobactam, 0% and 0%, respectively). Among the meropenem-resistant Pseudomonas spp. isolates (163/170, MIC>2 mg/L), activity of FTB against serine-β-lactamase (35/163) and MBL producers (43/163) was 88.6% and 65.1%, respectively, whereas the susceptibility of comparators was: ceftazidime-avibactam, 88.5% and 16.0%; meropenem-vaborbactam, 8.5% and 7.0%; imipenem-relebactam, 2.9% and 2.3%; ceftolozane-tazobactam, 0% and 2.3%; and piperacillin-tazobactam, 0% and 0%, respectively. Microbiological results suggest FTB as a potential therapeutic option in patients infected with carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales and carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas isolates, including MBL producers.

The Ultra-Broad-Spectrum Beta-lactamase Inhibitor QPX7728 Restores the Potency of Multiple Oral Beta-lactam Antibiotics against Beta-lactamase Producing Strains of Resistant Enterobacterales

QPX7728 is a cyclic boronate ultra-broad-spectrum beta-lactamase inhibitor, with potent activity against both serine and metallo beta-lactamases. QPX7728 can be delivered systemically by the IV or oral route of administration. Oral β-lactam antibiotics alone or in combination with QPX7728 were evaluated for 1) sensitivity to hydrolysis by various common beta-lactamases and inhibition of hydrolysis by QPX7728; 2) the impact of non-beta-lactamase-mediated resistance mechanisms on potency of beta-lactams; and 3) in vitro activity against a panel of clinical strains producing diverse beta-lactamases. The carbapenem tebipenem had stability for many serine beta-lactamases from all molecular classes followed by cephalosporin ceftibuten. Addition of QPX7728 to tebipenem, ceftibuten and mecillinam completely reversed beta-lactamase-mediated resistance in cloned beta-lactamases from serine and metallo enzyme classes; the degree of potentiation of other beta-lactams varied according to the beta-lactamase produced. Tebipenem, ceftibuten and cefixime had the lowest MICs against laboratory strains with various combinations of beta-lactamases and the intrinsic drug-resistance mechanisms of porin and efflux mutations. There was a high degree of correlation between potency of various combinations against cloned beta-lactamases and efflux/porin mutants and the activity against clinical isolates, showing the importance of both inhibition of beta-lactamase along with minimal impact of general intrinsic resistance mechanisms affecting the beta-lactam. Tebipenem and ceftibuten appeared to be the best beta-lactam antibiotics when combined with QPX7728 for activity against Enterobacterales that produce serine or metallo beta-lactamases.

Comparative analysis of the effectiveness of inhibitor-protected cephalosporins fortified with basic antibiotic

Inhibitor-protected cephalosporins are an important tool against hospital infections caused by extended spectrum β-lactamase producers. At the same time, the relative deficiency of the basic antibiotic in combination with the β-lactamase inhibitor sulbactam (1: 1) may be associated with the risk of therapeutic failure.Objective. To compare therapeutic effect of various regimens for prescribing inhibitor-protected cephalosporins in children with severe bacterial infection.Children characteristics and research methods. The authors compared clinical efficacy of cefotaxime / sulbactam, cefoperazone / sulbactam, cefepime / sulbactam at maximum doses and main component-fortified-cefepime / sulbactam. The study included 92 patients aged from 2 months to 12 years with appendicular peritonitis, acute purulent osteomyelitis, complicated hospital infections of the lower respiratory tract, exacerbation of chronic purulent otitis media and chronic urinary tract infections. It was found that inhibitor-protected cephalosporins with a 1: 1 ratio of components more often necessitated a change in therapy. The use of drugs initially containing a basic antibiotic in a high dose (component ratio 2:1) or additionally fortified with a basic antibiotic demonstrated a higher therapeutic efficacy.

1253. Antimicrobial Activity of Cefepime in Combination with Taniborbactam Against Clinical Isolates of Enterobacterales from 2018-2020 Global Surveillance

Background Taniborbactam (formerly VNRX-5133) is a novel cyclic boronate-based broad-spectrum β-lactamase inhibitor with potent and selective direct inhibitory activity against both serine- and metallo-β-lactamases (Ambler Classes A, B, C and D). Taniborbactam restores the activity of cefepime against many difficult to treat organisms, including cephalosporin- and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The activity of the investigational combination cefepime-taniborbactam (FTB) and comparator agents was evaluated against clinical isolates of Enterobacterales from a 2018-2020 global surveillance study. Methods MICs of cefepime with taniborbactam fixed at 4 µg/mL and comparators were determined following CLSI M07-A11 guidelines against 10,543 Enterobacterales. Isolates were from community and hospital infections collected from 259 sites in 56 countries in 2018-2020. Resistant phenotypes were based on 2021 CLSI breakpoints. A set of 827 isolates with meropenem MIC ≥4 µg/mL (n=421) or with cefepime and/or ceftazidime MIC ≥2 µg/mL (n=406) was evaluated for the presence of MBLs, KPC, ESBLs, and OXA-48 group genes via PCR and sequencing. Forty-eight isolates with FTB MIC values of 16 µg/mL or greater were interrogated by WGS. Results Overall, 23.0% and 15.9% of isolates were nonsusceptible (NS) to cefepime and piperacillin-tazobactam (TZP), respectively (Table). FTB had potent activity against all Enterobacterales, with MIC50/90 values of 0.06/0.25 µg/mL and 99.5% inhibited at ≤8 µg/mL. FTB maintained activity against MBL-, KPC-, OXA-48 group, and ESBL-positive isolates (MIC90 range, 1 to >16 µg/mL; 80.5% to 100% inhibited at ≤8 µg/mL). Isolates with elevated FTB MICs had IMP-type enzymes, variation in the cefepime target (penicillin binding protein 3), permeability defects in combination with acquired β-lactamases, and/or possible up-regulated efflux. Results Table Conclusion Taniborbactam significantly restored the in vitro activity of cefepime against Enterobacterales, including isolates nonsusceptible to recently-approved BL/BLI combinations and expressing serine and metallo-β-lactamases. This support the continued development of FTB as a potential new treatment option for challenging infections due to resistant Gram-negative pathogens. Disclosures Meredith Hackel, PhD MPH, IHMA (Employee)Pfizer, Inc. (Independent Contractor) Mark G G. Wise, PhD, IHMA (Employee)Pfizer, Inc. (Independent Contractor) Daniel F. Sahm, PhD, IHMA (Employee)Pfizer, Inc. (Independent Contractor)

Meropenem/vaborbactam activity in vitro: a new option for Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae treatment

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.

Comparative activity of newer β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations against Pseudomonas aeruginosa from patients hospitalized with pneumonia in European medical centers in 2020

Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were consecutively collected from patients with pneumonia in 29 medical centers in 2020 and susceptibility tested by broth microdilution method. Ceftazidime-avibactam (95.5% susceptible), imipenem-relebactam (94.3% susceptible), and ceftolozane-tazobactam (93.3% susceptible) were the most active compounds after colistin (99.5% susceptible). Susceptibility rates for the β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations (BL/BLIs) varied against isolates resistant to piperacillin-tazobactam, meropenem, imipenem, and/or ceftazidime. Ceftazidime-avibactam was the most active BL/BLI against resistant subsets from Western Europe, whereas imipenem-relebactam was slightly more active than other BL/BLIs against resistant subsets from Eastern Europe. Susceptibility rates were markedly lower in Eastern Europe than Western Europe.