Cefepime-taniborbactam activity against antimicrobial-resistant clinical isolates of Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa: GEARS global surveillance programme 2018-22.

OBJECTIVES: Taniborbactam is a boronate-based ß-lactamase inhibitor in clinical development in combination with cefepime. METHODS: Cefepime-taniborbactam and comparator broth microdilution MICs were determined for patient isolates of Enterobacterales (n = 20 725) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 7919) collected in 59 countries from 2018 to 2022. Taniborbactam was tested at a fixed concentration of 4 mg/L. Isolates with cefepime-taniborbactam MICs ≥ 16 mg/L underwent WGS. ß-Lactamase genes were identified in additional meropenem-resistant isolates by PCR/Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: Taniborbactam reduced the cefepime MIC90 value for all Enterobacterales from >16 to 0.25 mg/L (>64-fold). At ≤16 mg/L, cefepime-taniborbactam inhibited 99.5% of all Enterobacterales isolates; >95% of isolates with MDR and ceftolozane-tazobactam-resistant phenotypes;  ≥ 89% of isolates with meropenem-resistant and difficult-to-treat-resistant (DTR) phenotypes; >80% of isolates with meropenem-vaborbactam-resistant and ceftazidime-avibactam-resistant phenotypes; 100% of KPC-positive, 99% of OXA-48-like-positive, 99% of ESBL-positive, 97% of acquired AmpC-positive, 95% of VIM-positive and 76% of NDM-positive isolates. Against P. aeruginosa, taniborbactam reduced the cefepime MIC90 value from 32 to 8 mg/L (4-fold). At ≤16 mg/L, cefepime-taniborbactam inhibited 96.5% of all P. aeruginosa isolates; 85% of meropenem-resistant phenotype isolates; 80% of isolates with MDR and meropenem-vaborbactam-resistant phenotypes; >70% of isolates with DTR, ceftazidime-avibactam-resistant and ceftolozane-tazobactam-resistant phenotypes; and 82% of VIM-positive isolates. Multiple potential mechanisms of resistance, including carriage of IMP, or alterations in PBP3 (ftsI), porins (decreased permeability) and efflux (up-regulation) were present in most isolates with cefepime-taniborbactam MICs ≥ 16 mg/L. CONCLUSIONS: Cefepime-taniborbactam exhibited potent in vitro activity against Enterobacterales and P. aeruginosa, and inhibited most carbapenem-resistant isolates, including those carrying serine carbapenemases or NDM/VIM MBLs.

Phenotypic and molecular characterization of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 3 isolates from blood and respiratory samples in Canada: CANWARD 2007-21.

BACKGROUND: Lower respiratory infections and invasive disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 3 remain major clinical challenges around the world, despite widespread availability of updated vaccines. METHODS: As part of CANWARD, antimicrobial susceptibility testing and serotyping were performed on all S. pneumoniae isolates from 2007 to 2021. A subset of 226/264 (85.6%) serotype 3 isolates were selected for WGS to determine sequence type (ST)/clonal cluster (CC) and correspondence of antimicrobial resistance determinants (erm, mefAE, tetM, cat, folA, folP) with resistance phenotype. RESULTS: Of the 3,039 S. pneumoniae isolates obtained from 2007 to 2021, 8.7% (n = 264) were serotype 3, with 64.0% of respiratory origin and 36.0% from blood. Of 226 sequenced serotype 3 isolates, 184 (81.4%) were ST180 (GPSC12). The proportion of ST8561 (single locus variant of ST180) increased from 7.2% to 16.6% during the study period. An increasing proportion of serotype 3 isolates had phenotypic resistance (P = 0.0007) and genetic resistance determinants (P = 0.004), comparing 2017-21 to 2007-11, largely due to a recently expanded ST180 clade with cat, tetM and mef determinants. CONCLUSIONS: S. pneumoniae serotype 3 from GPSC12 continues to dominate throughout Canada, with an increase in the proportion of ST8561. The proportion of serotype 3 isolates that are phenotypically resistant and with genetic resistance determinants is increasing over time, reflecting a global increase in GPSC12 genotypes with known resistance determinants. Phylogenomic characterization of isolates collected over time and from around the world may facilitate improved treatment and enhanced prevention strategies, including new vaccines with activity against S. pneumoniae serotype 3.

Activity of ceftolozane/tazobactam and imipenem/relebactam against clinical isolates of Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa collected in Greece and Italy-SMART 2017-2021.

PURPOSE: The current study evaluated the in vitro activities of ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T), imipenem/relebactam (IMI/REL), and comparators against recent (2017-2021) clinical isolates of gram-negative bacilli from two countries in southern Europe. METHODS: Nine clinical laboratories (two in Greece; seven in Italy) each collected up to 250 consecutive gram-negative isolates per year from lower respiratory tract, intraabdominal, urinary tract, and bloodstream infection samples. MICs were determined by the CLSI broth microdilution method and interpreted using 2022 EUCAST breakpoints. ß-lactamase genes were identified in select ß-lactam-nonsusceptible isolate subsets. RESULTS: C/T inhibited the growth of 85-87% of Enterobacterales and 94-96% of ESBL-positive non-CRE NME (non-Morganellaceae Enterobacterales) isolates from both countries. IMI/REL inhibited 95-98% of NME, 100% of ESBL-positive non-CRE NME, and 98-99% of KPC-positive NME isolates from both countries. Country-specific differences in percent susceptible values for C/T, IMI/REL, meropenem, piperacillin/tazobactam, levofloxacin, and amikacin were more pronounced for Pseudomonas aeruginosa than Enterobacterales. C/T and IMI/REL both inhibited 84% of P. aeruginosa isolates from Greece and 91-92% of isolates from Italy. MBL rates were estimated as 4% of Enterobacterales and 10% of P. aeruginosa isolates from Greece compared to 1% of Enterobacterales and 3% of P. aeruginosa isolates from Italy. KPC rates among Enterobacterales isolates were similar in both countries (7-8%). OXA-48-like enzymes were only identified in Enterobacterales isolates from Italy (1%) while GES carbapenemase genes were only identified in P. aeruginosa isolates from Italy (2%). CONCLUSION: We conclude that C/T and IMI/REL may provide viable treatment options for many patients from Greece and Italy.

Susceptibility of gram-negative isolates collected in Taiwan to imipenem/relebactam and comparator agents - SMART 2018-2021.

BACKGROUND: Imipenem/relebactam (IMR) was approved for patient use in Taiwan in 2023. We evaluated the in vitro susceptibility of recent Gram-negative pathogens collected in Taiwan hospitals to IMR and comparators with a focus on carbapenem-resistant and KPC-carrying non-Morganellaceae Enterobacterales (NME), and carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA). METHODS: From 2018 to 2021, eight hospitals in Taiwan each collected up to 250 consecutive, aerobic or facultative, Gram-negative pathogens per year from patients with bloodstream, intraabdominal, lower respiratory tract, and urinary tract infections. MICs were determined using Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) broth microdilution. Most isolates that were IMR-, imipenem-, or ceftolozane/tazobactam-nonsusceptible were screened for ß-lactamase genes by PCR or whole-genome sequencing. RESULTS: Ninety-eight percent of NME (n = 5063) and 94% of P. aeruginosa (n = 1518) isolates were IMR-susceptible. Percent susceptible values for non-carbapenem ß-lactam comparators, including piperacillin/tazobactam, were 68-79% for NME isolates, while percent susceptible values for all ß-lactam comparators, including meropenem, were 73-81% for P. aeruginosa. IMR retained activity against 93% of multidrug-resistant (MDR) NME and 70% of MDR P. aeruginosa. Sixty-five percent of carbapenem-resistant NME and 81% of KPC-positive NME (n = 80) were IMR-susceptible. IMR inhibited 70% of CRPA (n = 287). Fifty percent of IMR-nonsusceptible NME tested for ß-lactamase carriage had an MBL or OXA-48-like enzyme, whereas most (95%) IMR-nonsusceptible P. aeruginosa examined did not carry acquired ß-lactamase genes. CONCLUSION: Based on our in vitro data, IMR may be a useful option for the treatment of hospitalized patients in Taiwan with infections caused by common Gram-negative pathogens, including carbapenem-resistant NME, KPC-positive NME, and CRPA.

In Vitro Activity of Ceftibuten-Avibactam against ß-Lactamase-Positive Enterobacterales from the ATLAS Global Surveillance Program.

Ceftibuten is an established, oral, third-generation cephalosporin in early clinical development in combination with an oral prodrug of avibactam for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections, including acute pyelonephritis. We evaluated the in vitro activity of ceftibuten-avibactam against 1,165 Enterobacterales isolates selected from the 2016-2020 ATLAS global surveillance program based upon their ß-lactamase genotype, ß-lactam-susceptible phenotype, species identification, and specimen source (95.8% urine). MICs were determined by CLSI broth microdilution. Avibactam was tested at a fixed concentration of 4 µg/mL. Molecular methods were used to identify ß-lactamase genes. Ceftibuten-avibactam inhibited 90% (MIC90) of ESBL-producing (n = 645), KPC-producing (n = 60), chromosomal AmpC-positive (n = 100), OXA-48-like-producing (n = 50), and acquired AmpC-producing (n = 110) isolates at concentrations of 0.12, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 µg/mL, respectively. At concentrations of ≤1 and ≤8 µg/mL, ceftibuten-avibactam inhibited 98.4 and 99.2% of ESBL-positive isolates; 96.7 and 100% of KPC-positive isolates; 91.0 and 99.0% of chromosomal AmpC-positive isolates; 86.0 and 96.0% of OXA-48-like-positive isolates; and 85.5 and 91.8% of acquired AmpC-positive isolates. Against ESBL-producing, KPC-producing, chromosomal AmpC-positive, OXA-48-like-producing, and acquired AmpC-producing isolates, ceftibuten-avibactam was 256-, 128-, >64-, >32-, and > 16-fold more potent than ceftibuten alone. The potency of ceftibuten-avibactam was 4-fold greater than ceftazidime-avibactam against ESBL-producing (ceftibuten-avibactam MIC90, 0.12 µg/mL; ceftazidime-avibactam MIC90, 0.5 µg/mL) and KPC-producing (0.5 µg/mL; 2 µg/mL) isolates, equivalent to ceftazidime-avibactam (MIC90, 2 µg/mL) against OXA-48-like-producing isolates, 2-fold less active than ceftazidime-avibactam (1 µg/mL; 0.5 µg/mL) against chromosomal AmpC-positive isolates, and 4-fold less active than ceftazidime-avibactam (4 µg/mL; 1 µg/mL) against acquired AmpC-producing isolates. Continued development of ceftibuten-avibactam appears justified.

In Vitro Activity of Cefepime-Taniborbactam and Comparators against Clinical Isolates of Gram-Negative Bacilli from 2018 to 2020: Results from the Global Evaluation of Antimicrobial Resistance via Surveillance (GEARS) Program.

Taniborbactam is a novel cyclic boronate ß-lactamase inhibitor in clinical development in combination with cefepime. We assessed the in vitro activity of cefepime-taniborbactam and comparators against a 2018-2020 collection of Enterobacterales (n = 13,731) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 4,619) isolates cultured from infected patients attending hospitals in 56 countries. MICs were determined by CLSI broth microdilution. Taniborbactam was tested at a fixed concentration of 4 µg/mL. Isolates with cefepime-taniborbactam MICs of ≥16 µg/mL underwent whole-genome sequencing. ß-lactamase genes were identified in meropenem-resistant isolates by PCR/Sanger sequencing. Against Enterobacterales, taniborbactam reduced the cefepime MIC90 value by >64-fold (from >16 to 0.25 µg/mL). At ≤16 µg/mL, cefepime-taniborbactam inhibited 99.7% of all Enterobacterales isolates; >97% of isolates with multidrug-resistant (MDR) and ceftolozane-tazobactam-resistant phenotypes; ≥90% of isolates with meropenem-resistant, difficult-to-treat-resistant (DTR), meropenem-vaborbactam-resistant, and ceftazidime-avibactam-resistant phenotypes; 100% of VIM-positive, AmpC-positive, and KPC-positive isolates; 98.7% of extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-positive; 98.8% of OXA-48-like-positive; and 84.6% of NDM-positive isolates. Against P. aeruginosa, taniborbactam reduced the cefepime MIC90 value by 4-fold (from 32 to 8 µg/mL). At ≤16 µg/mL, cefepime-taniborbactam inhibited 97.4% of all P. aeruginosa isolates; ≥85% of isolates with meropenem-resistant, MDR, and meropenem-vaborbactam-resistant phenotypes; >75% of isolates with DTR, ceftazidime-avibactam-resistant, and ceftolozane-tazobactam-resistant phenotypes; and 87.4% of VIM-positive isolates. Multiple potential mechanisms, including carriage of IMP, certain alterations in PBP3, permeability (porin) defects, and possibly, upregulation of efflux were present in most isolates with cefepime-taniborbactam MICs of ≥16 µg/mL. We conclude that cefepime-taniborbactam exhibited potent in vitro activity against Enterobacterales and P. aeruginosa and inhibited most carbapenem-resistant isolates, including those carrying serine carbapenemases or NDM/VIM metallo-ß-lactamases (MBLs).

Analysis of MDR in the predominant Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes in Canada: the SAVE study, 2011-2020.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the levels of MDR in the predominant serotypes of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated in Canada over a 10 year period. METHODS: All isolates were serotyped and had antimicrobial susceptibility testing performed, in accordance with CLSI guidelines (M07-11 Ed., 2018). Complete susceptibility profiles were available for 13 712 isolates. MDR was defined as resistance to three or more classes of antimicrobial agents (penicillin MIC ≥2 mg/L defined as resistant). Serotypes were determined by Quellung reaction. RESULTS: In total, 14 138 invasive isolates of S. pneumoniae were tested in the SAVE study (S. pneumoniae Serotyping and Antimicrobial Susceptibility: Assessment for Vaccine Efficacy in Canada), a collaboration between the Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Alliance and Public Health Agency of Canada-National Microbiology Laboratory. The rate of MDR S. pneumoniae in SAVE was 6.6% (902/13 712). Annual rates of MDR S. pneumoniae decreased between 2011 and 2015 (8.5% to 5.7%) and increased between 2016 and 2020 (3.9% to 9.4%). Serotypes 19A and 15A were the most common serotypes demonstrating MDR (25.4% and 23.5% of the MDR isolates, respectively); however, the serotype diversity index increased from 0.7 in 2011 to 0.9 in 2020 with a statistically significant linear increasing trend (P < 0.001). In 2020, MDR isolates were frequently serotypes 4 and 12F in addition to serotypes 15A and 19A. In 2020, 27.3%, 45.5%, 50.5%, 65.7% and 68.7% of invasive MDR S. pneumoniae were serotypes included in the PCV10, PCV13, PCV15, PCV20 and PPSV23 vaccines, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although current vaccine coverage of MDR S. pneumoniae in Canada is high, the increasing diversity of serotypes observed among the MDR isolates highlights the ability of S. pneumoniae to rapidly evolve.

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of invasive isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae from Canadian patients: the SAVE study, 2011-2020.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the antimicrobial susceptibility of 14 138 invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates collected in Canada from 2011 to 2020. METHODS: Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the CLSI M07 broth microdilution reference method. MICs were interpreted using 2022 CLSI M100 breakpoints. RESULTS: In 2020, 90.1% and 98.6% of invasive pneumococci were penicillin-susceptible when MICs were interpreted using CLSI meningitis or oral and non-meningitis breakpoints, respectively; 96.9% (meningitis breakpoint) and 99.5% (non-meningitis breakpoint) of isolates were ceftriaxone-susceptible, and 99.9% were levofloxacin-susceptible. Numerically small, non-temporal, but statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) in the annual percentage of isolates susceptible to four of the 13 agents tested was observed across the 10-year study: chloramphenicol (4.4% difference), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (3.9%), penicillin (non-meningitis breakpoint, 2.7%) and ceftriaxone (meningitis breakpoint, 2.7%; non-meningitis breakpoint, 1.2%). During the same period, annual differences in percent susceptible values for penicillin (meningitis and oral breakpoints) and all other agents did not achieve statistical significance. The percentage of isolates with an MDR phenotype (resistance to ≥3 antimicrobial classes) in 2011 and 2020 (8.5% and 9.4%) was not significantly different (P = 0.109), although there was a significant interim decrease observed between 2011 and 2015 (P < 0.001) followed by a significant increase between 2016 and 2020 (P < 0.001). Statistically significant associations were observed between resistance rates to most antimicrobial agents included in the MDR analysis (penicillin, clarithromycin, clindamycin, doxycycline, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and chloramphenicol) and patient age, specimen source, geographic location in Canada or concurrent resistance to penicillin or clarithromycin, but not biological sex of patients. Given the large isolate collection studied, statistical significance did not necessarily imply clinical or public health significance in some analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Invasive pneumococcal isolates collected in Canada from 2011 to 2020 generally exhibited consistent in vitro susceptibility to commonly tested antimicrobial agents.

Comparison of PCV10, PCV13, PCV15, PCV20 and PPSV23 vaccine coverage of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae isolate serotypes in Canada: the SAVE study, 2011-20.

BACKGROUND: As pneumococci evolve under vaccine, antimicrobial and other selective pressures, it is important to track isolates covered by established (PCV10, PCV13 and PPSV23) and new (PCV15 and PCV20) vaccine formulations. OBJECTIVES: To compare invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) isolates from serotypes covered by PCV10, PCV13, PCV15, PCV20 and PPSV23, collected in Canada from 2011 to 2020, by demographic category and antimicrobial resistance phenotype. METHODS: IPD isolates from the SAVE study were initially collected by members of the Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network (CPHLN) as part of a collaboration between the Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Alliance (CARA) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). Serotypes were determined by quellung reaction, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the CLSI broth microdilution method. RESULTS: A total of 14 138 invasive isolates were collected from 2011 to 2020, with 30.7% of isolates covered by the PCV13 vaccine, 43.6% of isolates covered by the PCV15 vaccine (including 12.9% non-PCV13 serotypes 22F and 33F), and 62.6% of isolates covered by the PCV20 vaccine (including 19.0% non-PCV15 serotypes 8, 10A, 11A, 12F and 15B/C). Non-PCV20 serotypes 2, 9N, 17F and 20, but not 6A (present in PPSV23) represented 8.8% of all IPD isolates. Higher-valency vaccine formulations covered significantly more isolates by age, sex, region and resistance phenotype including MDR isolates. Coverage of XDR isolates did not significantly differ between vaccine formulations. CONCLUSIONS: When compared with PCV13 and PCV15, PCV20 covered significantly more IPD isolates stratified by patient age, region, sex, individual antimicrobial resistance phenotypes and MDR phenotype.

Genomic investigation of the most common Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes causing invasive infections in Canada: the SAVE study, 2011-2020.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the lineages and genomic antimicrobial resistance (AMR) determinants of the 10 most common pneumococcal serotypes identified in Canada during the five most recent years of the SAVE study, in the context of the 10-year post-PCV13 period in Canada. METHODS: The 10 most common invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes collected by the SAVE study from 2016 to 2020 were 3, 22F, 9N, 8, 4, 12F, 19A, 33F, 23A and 15A. A random sample comprising ∼5% of each of these serotypes collected during each year of the full SAVE study (2011-2020) were selected for whole-genome sequencing (WGS) using the Illumina NextSeq platform. Phylogenomic analysis was performed using the SNVPhyl pipeline. WGS data were used to identify virulence genes of interest, sequence types, global pneumococcal sequence clusters (GPSC) and AMR determinants. RESULTS: Of the 10 serotypes analysed in this study, six increased significantly in prevalence from 2011 to 2020: 3, 4, 8, 9N, 23A and 33F (P ≤ 0.0201). Serotypes 12F and 15A remained stable in prevalence over time, while serotype 19A decreased in prevalence (P < 0.0001). The investigated serotypes represented four of the most prevalent international lineages causing non-vaccine serotype pneumococcal disease in the PCV13 era: GPSC3 (serotypes 8/33F), GPSC19 (22F), GPSC5 (23A) and GPSC26 (12F). Of these lineages, GPSC5 isolates were found to consistently possess the most AMR determinants. Commonly collected vaccine serotypes 3 and 4 were associated with GPSC12 and GPSC27, respectively. However, a more recently collected lineage of serotype 4 (GPSC192) was highly clonal and possessed AMR determinants. CONCLUSIONS: Continued genomic surveillance of S. pneumoniae in Canada is essential to monitor for the appearance of new and evolving lineages, including antimicrobial-resistant GPSC5 and GPSC162.

In vitro activity of aztreonam-avibactam against Enterobacterales isolates collected in Latin America, Africa/Middle East, Asia, and Eurasia for the ATLAS Global Surveillance Program in 2019-2021.

This study aimed to report reference method antimicrobial susceptibility results for 24,937 recent (2019-2021) clinical isolates of Enterobacterales from 27 countries in Latin America, Eurasia, Africa/Middle East, and Asia with a focus on the investigational combination aztreonam-avibactam against metallo-ß-lactamase (MBL) isolates. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by the CLSI broth microdilution methodology. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were interpreted using the CLSI (2022) breakpoints for all agents except aztreonam-avibactam (provisional pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic susceptible breakpoint, ≤ 8 mg/L) and tigecycline (US-FDA). Molecular testing for ß-lactamase genes was performed on isolates with meropenem MICs ≥ 2 mg/L, ceftazidime-avibactam MICs ≥ 16 mg/L, and/or aztreonam-avibactam MICs ≥ 16 mg/L, and 50% of isolates of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella variicola, and Proteus mirabilis testing with ceftazidime and/or aztreonam MICs ≥ 2 mg/L. Aztreonam-avibactam inhibited 99.8% of all Enterobacterales at ≤ 8 mg/L (MIC90, 0.25 mg/L) and maintained activity against phenotypically resistant subsets of multidrug-resistant (MDR) (99.5% susceptible), extensively drug-resistant (XDR) (98.7%), and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) (99.1%) isolates. At ≤ 8 mg/L, aztreonam-avibactam inhibited 100%, 99.6%, 99.6%, and 98.8% of KPC-, OXA-48-like-, ESBL-, and MBL-carrying isolates, respectively. MBL-positive isolates were most prevalent in India (20.5%), Guatemala (13.8%), and Jordan (13.2%). No differences in the activity of aztreonam-avibactam were observed across the global regions evaluated. At a concentration of ≤ 8 mg/L, aztreonam-avibactam inhibited almost all Enterobacterales collected from developing countries, including MBL-producing isolates. The widespread dissemination of MBLs among Enterobacterales highlights the unmet need for new agents such as aztreonam-avibactam for the treatment of CRE infections.

In Vitro Activity of Sulbactam-Durlobactam against Global Isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus Complex Collected from 2016 to 2021.

Sulbactam-durlobactam is a ß-lactam-ß-lactamase inhibitor combination designed to treat serious Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex (ABC) infections, including carbapenem-non-susceptible and multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates. The current study characterized the in vitro activity of sulbactam-durlobactam against a collection of 5,032 ABC clinical isolates collected in 33 countries across the Asia/South Pacific region, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America from 2016 to 2021. The sulbactam-durlobactam MIC50 and MIC90 were 1 and 2 µg/mL, respectively, for all ABC isolates tested. The addition of durlobactam (at a fixed concentration of 4 µg/mL) to sulbactam decreased its MIC50 by 8-fold (from 8 to 1 µg/mL) and its MIC90 by 32-fold (from 64 to 2 µg/mL) for all ABC isolates. The in vitro activity of sulbactam-durlobactam was maintained across individual ABC species, years, global regions of collection, specimen sources, and resistance phenotypes, including MDR and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) isolates. At 4 µg/mL (preliminary sulbactam-durlobactam susceptible MIC breakpoint), sulbactam-durlobactam inhibited 98.3% of all ABC isolates and >96% of sulbactam-, imipenem-, ciprofloxacin-, amikacin-, and minocycline-non-susceptible isolates; as well as colistin-resistant, MDR, and XDR isolates. Most imipenem-non-susceptible ABC isolates (96.8%, 2,488/2,570) were carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB); 96.9% (2,410/2,488) of CRAB isolates were sulbactam-durlobactam-susceptible. More than 80% of ABC isolates had sulbactam-durlobactam MIC values that were ≥2 doubling-dilutions (4-fold) lower than sulbactam alone. Only 1.7% (84/5,032) of ABC isolates from 2016 to 2021 had sulbactam-durlobactam MIC values of >4 µg/mL. Of the 84 isolates, 94.0% were A. baumannii, 4.8% were A. pittii, and 1.2% were A. nosocomialis. In summary, sulbactam-durlobactam demonstrated potent antibacterial activity against a 2016 to 2021 collection of geographically diverse clinical isolates of ABC isolates, including carbapenem-non-susceptible and MDR isolates.

In Vitro Activity of Ceftibuten/VNRX-5236 against Urinary Tract Infection Isolates of Antimicrobial-Resistant Enterobacterales.

Ceftibuten/VNRX-7145 is a cephalosporin/boronate ß-lactamase inhibitor combination under development as an oral treatment for complicated urinary tract infections caused by Enterobacterales producing serine ß-lactamases (Ambler class A, C, and D). In vivo, VNRX-7145 (VNRX-5236 etzadroxil) is cleaved to the active inhibitor, VNRX-5236. We assessed the in vitro activity of ceftibuten/VNRX-5236 against 1,066 urinary isolates of Enterobacterales from a 2014-2016 global culture collection. Each isolate tested was preselected to possess a multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotype that included nonsusceptibility to amoxicillin-clavulanate and resistance to levofloxacin. MICs were determined by CLSI broth microdilution. VNRX-5236 was tested at a fixed concentration of 4 µg/ml. Ceftibuten/VNRX-5236 inhibited 90% of all isolates tested (MIC90) at 2 µg/ml; MIC90s for ESBL- (n = 566), serine carbapenemase- (n = 116), and acquired AmpC-positive (n = 58) isolate subsets were ≤0.25, >32, and 8 µg/ml, respectively. At concentrations of ≤1, ≤2, and ≤4 µg/ml, ceftibuten/VNRX-5236 inhibited 89.1, 91.7, and 93.1% of all isolates tested; 96.5, 97.7, and 98.4% of ESBL-positive isolates; 75.9, 81.9, and 81.9% of serine carbapenemase-positive isolates; and 70.7, 81.0, and 87.9% of acquired AmpC-positive isolates. Ceftibuten/VNRX-5236 at concentrations of ≤1, ≤2, and ≤4 µg/ml inhibited 85-89, 89-91, and 91-92% of isolates that were not susceptible (defined by CLSI and EUCAST breakpoint criteria) to nitrofurantoin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and/or fosfomycin, (as part of their MDR phenotype), oral agents commonly prescribed to treat uncomplicated urinary tract infections. The potency of ceftibuten/VNRX-5236 (MIC90, 2 µg/ml) was similar (within one doubling-dilution) to intravenous-only agents ceftazidime-avibactam (MIC90 2 µg/ml) and meropenem-vaborbactam (MIC90 1 µg/ml). Continued investigation of ceftibuten/VNRX-5236 is warranted.

In Vitro Activity of Gepotidacin against Gram-Negative and Gram-Positive Anaerobes.

Gepotidacin (formerly GSK2140944) is a first-in-class triazaacenaphthylene antibacterial currently in phase III clinical trials. When tested against Gram-negative (n = 333) and Gram-positive (n = 225) anaerobes by agar dilution, gepotidacin inhibited 90% of isolates at concentrations of 4 and 2 µg/mL, respectively. Given gepotidacin's in vitro activity against the anaerobic isolates tested, further study is warranted to better understand the utility of gepotidacin in the treatment of infections caused by clinically relevant anaerobic organisms.

Ceftibuten-Ledaborbactam Activity against Multidrug-Resistant and Extended-Spectrum-ß-Lactamase-Positive Clinical Isolates of Enterobacterales from a 2018-2020 Global Surveillance Collection.

Ceftibuten-ledaborbactam etzadroxil is a cephalosporin-boronate ß-lactamase inhibitor prodrug combination under development as an oral treatment for complicated urinary tract infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Enterobacterales producing serine ß-lactamases (Ambler class A, C, and D). In vivo, ledaborbactam etzadroxil (formerly VNRX-7145) is cleaved to the active inhibitor ledaborbactam (formerly VNRX-5236). To more completely define the breadth of ceftibuten-ledaborbactam's activity against important antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, we assessed its in vitro activity against phenotypic and genotypic subsets from a 2018-2020 global culture collection of 3,889 clinical isolates of Enterobacterales, including MDR organisms, extended-spectrum-ß-lactamase (ESBL)-positive organisms, and organisms that are nonsusceptible and resistant to other antimicrobials. MICs were determined by CLSI broth microdilution and interpreted using both CLSI and EUCAST breakpoints. Ledaborbactam was tested at a fixed concentration of 4 µg/mL. ß-Lactamase genes were characterized by PCR followed by Sanger sequencing or whole-genome sequencing for selected ß-lactam-resistant isolate subsets. At ≤1 µg/mL, ceftibuten-ledaborbactam (MIC90, 0.25 µg/mL) inhibited 89.7% of MDR isolates, 98.3% of isolates with a presumptive ESBL-positive phenotype, and 92.6% of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole-nonsusceptible, 91.7% of levofloxacin-nonsusceptible, 88.1% of amoxicillin-clavulanate-nonsusceptible, 85.7% of ceftibuten-resistant (MIC >1 µg/mL), and 54.1% of carbapenem-nonsusceptible isolates. Against specific ESBL genotype-positive isolates (AmpC negative, serine carbapenemase negative, and metallo-ß-lactamase negative), ceftibuten-ledaborbactam inhibited 96.3% of CTX-M-9 group (MIC90, 0.25 µg/mL), 91.5% of CTX-M-1 group (MIC90, 0.5 µg/mL), and 88.2% of SHV-positive (MIC90, 2 µg/mL) isolates at ≤1 µg/mL. Against specific serine carbapenemase genotype-positive isolates, ceftibuten-ledaborbactam inhibited 85.9% of KPC-positive (MIC90, 2 µg/mL) and 82.9% of OXA-48-group-positive (MIC90, 2 µg/mL) isolates at ≤1 µg/mL. Continued development of ceftibuten-ledaborbactam appears warranted.

In Vitro Susceptibility of Gram-Negative Pathogens to Cefiderocol in Five Consecutive Annual Multinational SIDERO-WT Surveillance Studies, 2014 to 2019.

We report in vitro susceptibility data from five consecutive annual SIDERO-WT surveillance studies (2014 to 2019) for cefiderocol and comparators tested against Gram-negative clinical isolates from North America and Europe. CLSI broth microdilution was used to determine MICs for Enterobacterales (n = 31,896), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 7,700), Acinetobacter baumannii complex (n = 5,225), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (n = 2,030), and Burkholderia cepacia complex (n = 425). MICs were interpreted by CLSI-approved clinical breakpoints (February 2021). Cefiderocol inhibited 99.8, 96.7, 91.6, and 97.7% of all Enterobacterales, meropenem-nonsusceptible, ceftazidime-avibactam-nonsusceptible, and ceftolozane-tazobactam-nonsusceptible isolates, respectively, at ≤4 µg/mL (susceptible breakpoint). Cefiderocol inhibited 99.9, 99.8, 100, and 99.8% of all P. aeruginosa, meropenem-nonsusceptible, ceftazidime-avibactam-nonsusceptible, and ceftolozane-tazobactam-nonsusceptible isolates, respectively, at ≤4 µg/mL (susceptible breakpoint). Cefiderocol inhibited 96.0% of all A. baumannii complex isolates and 94.2% of meropenem-nonsusceptible isolates at ≤4 µg/mL (susceptible breakpoint) and 98.6% of S. maltophilia isolates at ≤1 µg/mL (susceptible breakpoint). B. cepacia complex isolates were tested with a MIC50 of ≤0.03 µg/mL and MIC90 of 0.5 µg/mL. Annual cefiderocol percent susceptible rates for Enterobacterales (North America range, 99.6 to 100%/year; Europe range, 99.3 to 99.9%/year) and P. aeruginosa (North America range, 99.8 to 100%; Europe range, 99.9 to 100%) were unchanged from 2014 to 2019. Annual percent susceptible rates for A. baumannii complex demonstrated sporadic, nondirectional differences (North America range, 97.5 to 100%; Europe range, 90.4 to 97.5%); the wider range for Europe (∼7%) was due to isolates from Russia. Annual percent susceptible rates for S. maltophilia showed minor, nondirectional differences (North America range, 96.4 to 100%; Europe range, 95.6 to 100%). We conclude that clinical isolates of Enterobacterales (99.8% susceptible), P. aeruginosa (99.9%), A. baumannii (96.0%), and S. maltophilia (98.6%) collected in North America and Europe from 2014 to 2019 were highly susceptible to cefiderocol.

In Vitro Activity of Ceftolozane-Tazobactam, Imipenem-Relebactam, Ceftazidime-Avibactam, and Comparators against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates Collected in United States Hospitals According to Results from the SMART Surveillance Program, 2018 to 2020.

Ceftolozane-tazobactam (C/T), imipenem-relebactam (IMR), and ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA) were tested against 2,531 P. aeruginosa strains isolated from patients in the United States from 2018 to 2020 as part of the SMART (Study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends) surveillance program. MICs were determined by CLSI broth microdilution and interpreted using CLSI M100 (2021) breakpoints. Imipenem-, IMR-, or C/T-nonsusceptible isolates were screened for ß-lactamase genes: 96.4% of all isolates and ≥70% of multidrug-resistant (MDR), pan-ß-lactam-nonsusceptible, and difficult-to-treat resistance (DTR) isolates were C/T-susceptible; 52.2% of C/T-nonsusceptible isolates remained susceptible to IMR compared to 38.9% for CZA; and 1.7% of isolates tested were nonsusceptible to both C/T and IMR versus 2.2% of isolates with a C/T-nonsusceptible and CZA-resistant phenotype (a difference of 12 isolates). C/T and IMR modal MICs for pan-ß-lactam-nonsusceptible isolates remained at or below their respective susceptible MIC breakpoints from 2018 to 2020, while the modal MIC for CZA increased 2-fold from 2018 to 2019 and exceeded the CZA-susceptible MIC breakpoint in both 2019 and 2020. Only six of 802 molecularly characterized isolates carried a metallo-ß-lactamase, and two isolates carried a GES carbapenemase. Most P. aeruginosa isolates were C/T-susceptible, including many with MDR, pan-ß-lactam-nonsusceptible, DTR, CZA-resistant, and IMR-nonsusceptible phenotypes. While C/T was the most active antipseudomonal agent, IMR demonstrated greater activity than CZA against isolates nonsusceptible to C/T.

Evaluation of the Hologic Aptima Combo 2 Assay for Detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from Joint Fluid Specimens.

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Nucleic acid amplification testing is the preferred method for routine diagnosis of gonorrhea from urogenital specimens, but culture is commonly used for diagnosis of disseminated infections, including gonococcal arthritis. The Hologic Aptima Combo 2 (AC2), a transcription-mediated amplification assay, is FDA and Health Canada licensed for detection of N. gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis from urogenital, rectal, and pharyngeal specimens, but not joint fluid. In the current study, we compared the performance of microscopy, culture, and the AC2 for detection of N. gonorrhoeae from 170 joint fluid specimens. A total of five specimens were culture-positive, whereas 14 were AC2-positive. Gram-negative diplococci, characteristic of Neisseria, were observed in only two joint fluid specimens. Complementary testing confirmed the presence of N. gonorrhoeae in seven discordant (i.e., culture-negative/AC2-positive) specimens. These results indicate that the AC2 is more sensitive than culture for the diagnosis of gonococcal arthritis.

In vitro activity of fosfomycin against bacterial pathogens isolated from urine specimens in Canada from 2007 to 2020: CANWARD surveillance study.

BACKGROUND: Multiple susceptible breakpoints are published to interpret fosfomycin MICs: ≤64 mg/L for Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis grown from urine (CLSI M100); ≤32 mg/L for Enterobacterales and staphylococci when parenteral fosfomycin is prescribed (EUCAST); and ≤8 mg/L for uncomplicated urinary tract infection with E. coli when oral fosfomycin is used (EUCAST). Clinical laboratories are frequently requested to test fosfomycin against antimicrobial-resistant urinary isolates not included in standard documents. METHODS: The in vitro activity of fosfomycin was determined using the CLSI agar dilution method for a 2007-20 collection of clinically significant Gram-negative (3656 Enterobacterales; 140 Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive (346 E. faecalis; 94 Staphylococcus aureus) urinary isolates from the CANWARD surveillance study. Comparator agents were tested using CLSI broth microdilution. RESULTS: Using the CLSI MIC breakpoint (≤64 mg/L), 99.2% of E. coli (n = 2871; MIC90, 4 mg/L), including 96.7% of ESBL-positive isolates, were fosfomycin susceptible. Similarly, 95.8% of E. coli, including 95.2% of ESBL-positive isolates, were fosfomycin susceptible at ≤8 mg/L (EUCAST oral susceptible MIC breakpoint). All other species of Enterobacterales (except Citrobacter freundii) and P. aeruginosa had higher fosfomycin MICs (MIC90s, 64 to >512 mg/L) than E. coli. Using published breakpoints, 88.4% of E. faecalis (MIC ≤64 mg/L) and 97.9% of S. aureus (MIC ≤32 mg/L) isolates were fosfomycin susceptible. CONCLUSIONS: Fosfomycin demonstrated in vitro activity against frequently encountered Gram-positive and Gram-negative urinary pathogens; however, the extrapolation of current CLSI and EUCAST MIC breakpoints to pathogens not specified by standard methods requires further study and is currently not recommended.

In vitro activity of sulopenem against 1880 bacterial pathogens isolated from Canadian patients with urinary tract infections (CANWARD, 2014-21).

INTRODUCTION: There are limited oral antimicrobial options for the treatment of urinary infections caused by ESBL-producing and MDR Enterobacterales. Sulopenem is an investigational thiopenem antimicrobial that is being developed as both an oral and IV formulation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of sulopenem versus bacterial pathogens recovered from the urine of patients admitted to or assessed at hospitals across Canada (CANWARD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The in vitro activity of sulopenem and clinically relevant comparators was determined for 1880 Gram-negative and Gram-positive urinary isolates obtained as part of the CANWARD study (2014 to 2021) using the CLSI broth microdilution method. RESULTS: Sulopenem demonstrated excellent in vitro activity versus members of the Enterobacterales, with MIC90 values ranging from 0.06 to 0.5 mg/L for all species tested. Over 90% of ESBL-producing, AmpC-producing and MDR (not susceptible to ≥1 antimicrobial from ≥3 classes) Escherichia coli were inhibited by ≤0.25 mg/L of sulopenem. Sulopenem had an identical MIC90 to meropenem for ESBL-producing and MDR E. coli. The MIC90 of sulopenem and meropenem versus MSSA was 0.25 mg/L. Sulopenem was not active in vitro versus Pseudomonas aeruginosa (similar to ertapenem), and it demonstrated poor activity versus Enterococcus faecalis (similar to meropenem). CONCLUSIONS: Sulopenem demonstrated excellent in vitro activity versus bacterial pathogens recovered from the urine of Canadian patients. These data suggest that sulopenem may have a role in the treatment of urinary infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant Enterobacterales, but additional clinical studies are required.