Acquisition of Extended-Spectrum ß-Lactamase GES-6 Leading to Resistance to Ceftolozane-Tazobactam Combination in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

ABSTRACT

A clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolate resistant to all ß-lactams, including ceftolozane-tazobactam and carbapenems, was recovered. It belonged to sequence type 235 and produced the extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL) GES-6 differing from GES-1 by two amino acid substitutions (E104K and G170S). GES-6 possessed an increased hydrolytic activity toward carbapenems and to ceftolozane and a decreased susceptibility to ß-lactamase inhibitors compared to GES-1, except for avibactam. We show here that resistance to ceftolozane-tazobactam may occur through acquisition of a specific ESBL in P. aeruginosa but that ceftazidime-avibactam combination remains an effective alternative.