Efficacy of Ceftaroline Fosamil against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains in a rabbit meningitis model.

In this study, the efficacy of ceftaroline fosamil was compared with that of cefepime in an experimental rabbit meningitis model against two Gram-negative strains (Escherichia coli QK-9 and Klebsiella pneumoniae 1173687). The penetration of ceftaroline into inflamed and uninflamed meninges was also investigated. Both regimens were bactericidal, but ceftaroline fosamil was significantly superior to cefepime against K. pneumoniae and E. coli in this experimental rabbit meningitis model (P < 0.0007 against K. pneumoniae and P < 0.0016 against E. coli). The penetration of ceftaroline was approximately 15% into inflamed meninges and approximately 3% into uninflamed meninges.

Efficacy of ceftaroline fosamil against penicillin-sensitive and -resistant streptococcus pneumoniae in an experimental rabbit meningitis model.

Ceftaroline is a new cephalosporin with bactericidal activity against resistant Gram-positive organisms, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, as well as common Gram-negative organisms. This study tested the prodrug, ceftaroline fosamil, against a penicillin-sensitive and a penicillin-resistant strain of S. pneumoniae in an experimental rabbit meningitis model. The penetration of ceftaroline into inflamed meninges was approximately 14%. Ceftaroline fosamil was slightly superior to ceftriaxone against the penicillin-sensitive strain and significantly superior to the combination of ceftriaxone and vancomycin against the penicillin-resistant strain.

Evaluation of ceftobiprole activity against a variety of gram-negative pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae (ß-lactamase positive and ß-lactamase negative), and Klebsiella pneumoniae, in a rabbit meningitis model.

Ceftobiprole medocaril, a new cephalosporin, is highly active against a broad spectrum of Gram-positive and Gram-negative clinical pathogens, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and penicillin-resistant pneumococci. In this study, we tested ceftobiprole against various Gram-negative pathogens in a rabbit meningitis model and determined its penetration into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In this animal model, ceftobiprole produced an antibacterial activity similar to that of cefepime against an Escherichia coli strain, a Klebsiella pneumoniae strain, and a ß-lactamase-negative Haemophilus influenzae strain. Against a ß-lactamase-positive H. influenzae strain, ceftobiprole was significantly superior. The penetration of ceftobiprole through inflamed meninges reached about 16% of serum levels compared to about 2% of serum levels through uninflamed meninges.

Combination of daptomycin plus ceftriaxone is more active than vancomycin plus ceftriaxone in experimental meningitis after addition of dexamethasone.

We examined the cerebrospinal fluid penetration of daptomycin after the addition of dexamethasone and its bactericidal efficacy with and without ceftriaxone in an experimental rabbit model of pneumococcal meningitis. The combination of daptomycin with ceftriaxone was the most efficacious regimen for pneumococcal meningitis. The previous addition of dexamethasone affected the antibacterial activity of daptomycin only marginally, either as monotherapy or combined with ceftriaxone, although the penetration of daptomycin into inflamed meninges was significantly reduced from 6 to 2%. Daptomycin with ceftriaxone might be a potential candidate for the empirical therapy of bacterial meningitis, although the activity of this regimen against Listeria monocytogenes remains to be demonstrated.

Sub-inhibitory concentrations of vancomycin prevent quinolone-resistance in a penicillin-resistant isolate of Streptococcus pneumoniae.

BACKGROUND: The continuous spread of penicillin-resistant pneumococci represents a permanent threat in the treatment of pneumococcal infections, especially when strains show additional resistance to quinolones. The main objective of this study was to determine a treatment modality impeding the emergence of quinolone resistance. RESULTS: Exposure of a penicillin-resistant pneumococcus to increasing concentrations of trovafloxacin or ciprofloxacin selected for mutants resistant to these drugs. In the presence of sub-inhibitory concentrations of vancomycin, development of trovafloxacin-resistance and high-level ciprofloxacin-resistance were prevented. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the risk of quinolone-resistance in pneumococci, the observation might be of clinical importance.

Daptomycin produces an enhanced bactericidal activity compared to ceftriaxone, measured by [3H]choline release in the cerebrospinal fluid, in experimental meningitis due to a penicillin-resistant pneumococcal strain without lysing its cell wall.

Daptomycin monotherapy was superior to ceftriaxone monotherapy and was highly efficacious in experimental pneumococcal meningitis, sterilizing the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of three of three rabbits after 4 to 6 h. With daptomycin therapy only a negligible release of [(3)H]choline as marker of cell wall lysis was detectable in the CSF, peaking around 250 cpm/min after 4 h, compared to a peak of around 2,400 cpm/min after 4 to 6 h for the ceftriaxone-treated rabbits.

Vancomycin acts synergistically with gentamicin against penicillin-resistant pneumococci by increasing the intracellular penetration of gentamicin.

Vancomycin and gentamicin act synergistically against penicillin-resistant pneumococci in vitro and in experimental rabbit meningitis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the underlying mechanism of this synergism. The intracellular concentration of gentamicin was measured by using the following experimental setting. Bacterial cultures were incubated with either gentamicin alone or gentamicin plus vancomycin for a short period (15 min). The gentamicin concentration was determined before and after grinding of the cultures by using the COBAS INTEGRA fluorescence polarization system (Roche). The grinding efficacies ranged between 44 and 54%, as determined by viable cell counts. In the combination regimen the intracellular concentration of gentamicin increased to 186% compared to that achieved with gentamicin monotherapy. These data suggest that the synergy observed in vivo and in vitro is based on an increased intracellular penetration of the aminoglycoside, probably due to the effect of vancomycin on the permeability of the cell wall.

Synergy between trovafloxacin and ceftriaxone against penicillin-resistant pneumococci in the rabbit meningitis model and in vitro.

The bactericidal activities of monotherapy with trovafloxacin (-0.37 +/- 0.15 Delta log(10) CFU/ml. h), vancomycin (-0.32 +/- 0.12 Delta log(10) CFU/ml. h), and ceftriaxone (-0.36 +/- 0.19 Delta log(10) CFU/ml. h) for the treatment of experimental meningitis in rabbits due to a clinical penicillin-resistant pneumococcal strain (MIC, 4 mg/liter) were similar. The combination of ceftriaxone with trovafloxacin considerably improved the killing rates (-0.67 +/- 0.16 Delta log(10) CFU/ml. h) and was slightly superior to ceftriaxone with vancomycin (killing rate, -0.53 +/- 0. 22 Delta log(10) CFU/ml. h), the regimen most commonly used in clinical practice. In vitro, synergy was demonstrated between ceftriaxone and trovafloxacin by the checkerboard method (fractional inhibitory concentration index, 0.5) and by time-killing assays over 8 h.

Linezolid against penicillin-sensitive and -resistant pneumococci in the rabbit meningitis model.

Linezolid, a new oxazolidinone antibiotic, showed good penetration (38+/-4%) into the meninges of rabbits with levels in the CSF ranging from 9.5 to 1.8 mg/L after two i.v. injections (20 mg/kg). Linezolid was clearly less effective than ceftriaxone against a penicillin-sensitive pneumococcal strain. Against a penicillin-resistant strain, linezolid had slightly inferior killing rates compared with the standard regimen (ceftriaxone combined with vancomycin). In vitro, linezolid was marginally bactericidal at concentrations above the MIC (5 x and 10 x MIC).

Meropenem prevents levofloxacin-induced resistance in penicillin-resistant pneumococci and acts synergistically with levofloxacin in experimental meningitis.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential synergy between meropenem and levofloxacin in vitro and in experimental meningitis and to determine the effect of meropenem on levofloxacin-induced resistance in vitro. Meropenem increased the efficacy of levofloxacin against the penicillin-resistant pneumococcal strain KR4 in time-killing assays in vitro and acted synergistically against a second penicillin-resistant strain WB4. In the checkerboard, only an additive effect (FIC indices: 1.0) was observed for both strains. In cycling experiments in vitro, levofloxacin alone led to a 64-fold increase in the MIC for both strains after 12 cycles. Addition of meropenem in sub-MIC concentrations (0.25 x MIC) completely inhibited the selection of levofloxacin-resistant mutants in WB4 after 12 cycles. In KR4, the addition of meropenem led to just a twofold increase in the MIC for levofloxacin after 12 cycles. Mutations detected in the genes encoding for topoisomerase IV (parC) and gyrase (gyrA) confirmed the levofloxacin-induced resistance in both strains. Addition of meropenem was able to completely suppress levofloxacin-induced mutations in WB4 and led to only one mutation in parE in KR4. In experimental meningitis, meropenem, given in two doses (2 x 125 mg/kg), produced a good bactericidal activity (-0.45 Deltalog10 cfu/ml.h) comparable to one dose (1 x 10 mg/kg) of levofloxacin (-0.44 Deltalog10 cfu/ml.h) against the penicillin-resistant strain WB4. Meropenem combined with levofloxacin acted synergistically (-0.93 Deltalog10 cfu/ml.h), sterilizing the CSF of all rabbits.

Ceftriaxone acts synergistically with levofloxacin in experimental meningitis and reduces levofloxacin-induced resistance in penicillin-resistant pneumococci.

Ceftriaxone acted synergistically with levofloxacin in time-killing assays in vitro over 8 h against two penicillin-resistant pneumococcal strains (WB4 and KR4; MIC of penicillin: 4 mg/L). Synergy was confirmed with the chequerboard method, showing FIC indices of 0.25. In the experimental rabbit meningitis model, ceftriaxone (1x 125 mg/kg) was slightly less bactericidal (-0.30 Deltalog(10) cfu/mL(.)h) compared with levofloxacin (-0.45 Deltalog(10) cfu/mL(.)h) against the penicillin-resistant strain WB4. The combination therapy (levofloxacin and ceftriaxone) was significantly superior (-0.64 Deltalog(10) cfu/mL(.)h) to either monotherapy. In cycling experiments in vitro, the addition of ceftriaxone at a sub-MIC concentration (1/16 MIC) reduced levofloxacin-induced resistance in the two strains KR4 and WB4. After 12 cycles with levofloxacin monotherapy, the MIC increased 64-fold in both strains versus a 16-fold increase with the combination (levofloxacin + ceftriaxone 1/16 MIC). In both strains, levofloxacin-induced resistance was confirmed by mutations detected in the genes parC and gyrA, encoding for subunits of topoisomerase IV and gyrase, respectively. The addition of ceftriaxone suppressed mutations in parC but led to a new mutation in parE in both strains.

Activities of ertapenem, a new long-acting carbapenem, against penicillin-sensitive or -resistant pneumococci in experimental meningitis.

The penetration of ertapenem, a new carbapenem with a long half-life, reached 7.1 and 2.4% into inflamed and noninflamed meninges, respectively. Ertapenem had excellent antibacterial activity in the treatment of experimental meningitis due to penicillin-sensitive and -resistant pneumococci, leading to a decrease of 0.69 +/- 0.17 and 0.59 +/- 0.22 log(10) CFU/ml x h, respectively, in the viable cell counts in the cerebrospinal fluid. The efficacy of ertapenem was comparable to that of standard regimens (ceftriaxone monotherapy against the penicillin-sensitive strain and ceftriaxone combined with vancomycin against the penicillin-resistant strain). In vitro, ertapenem in concentrations above the MIC was highly bactericidal against both strains. Even against a penicillin- and quinolone-resistant mutant, ertapenem had similar bactericidal activity in vitro.

Evaluation of cefepime alone and in combination with vancomycin against penicillin-resistant pneumococci in the rabbit meningitis model and in vitro.

Cefepime, a broad-spectrum, fourth-generation cephalosporin, showed excellent CSF penetration with levels ranging between 10 and 16 mg/L after two intravenous injections (100 mg/kg). The bactericidal activity of cefepime (-0.60 +/- 0.28 Deltalog(10) cfu/mL/h) was superior to that of ceftriaxone (-0.34 +/- 0.23 Deltalog(10) cfu/mL/h, P < 0.05) and vancomycin (-0.39 +/- 0.19 Deltalog(10) cfu/mL/h, P < 0.05) in the treatment of rabbits with meningitis caused by an isolate highly resistant to penicillin (MIC of penicillin G: 4 mg/L). The addition of vancomycin to both cephalosporins did not significantly increase the killing rate compared with monotherapies (P > 0.05). Similar results were obtained in time-killing experiments in vitro.

Meropenem alone and in combination with vancomycin in experimental meningitis caused by a penicillin-resistant pneumococcal strain.

In a rabbit model of meningitis caused by a pneumococcus highly resistant to penicillin (MIC, 4 microg/ml), meropenem, a broad-spectrum carbapenem, was bactericidal (-0.48+/-0.14 deltalog10 cfu/ml h) and slightly superior to ceftriaxone (-0.34+/-0.23 deltalog10 cfu/ml x h) and vancomycin (-0.39+/-0.19 deltalog10 cfu/ml x h). Although the combination of vancomycin with ceftriaxone was significantly more active than ceftriaxone alone (-0.55+/-0.19 deltalog10 cfu/ml x h), only an insignificant gain was observed by the addition of vancomycin to meropenem (-0.55+/-0.28 deltalog10 cfu/ml x h).

Efficacy of gatifloxacin alone and in combination with cefepime against penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in a rabbit meningitis model and in vitro.

Gatifloxacin penetrated well into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (49 +/- 11%), measured by comparison of AUC(CSF)/AUC(serum), and showed good bactericidal activity (leading to a decrease of 0.75 +/- 0.17 log10 cfu/mL/h) in the treatment of experimental meningitis in rabbits caused by a penicillin-resistant pneumococcal strain (MIC 4 mg/L). It was significantly more effective than the standard regimen, ceftriaxone with vancomycin, which led to a decrease of 0.53 +/- 0.17 log10 cfu/mL/h. The addition of cefepime to gatifloxacin slightly improved the killing rates (giving a decrease of 0.84 +/- 0.14 log10 cfu/mL/h). In vitro, synergy was demonstrated between cefepime and gatifloxacin by the chequerboard method (fractional inhibitory concentration index = 0.5) and by viable counts over 8 h.

Cefotaxime acts synergistically with levofloxacin in experimental meningitis due to penicillin-resistant pneumococci and prevents selection of levofloxacin-resistant mutants in vitro.

Cefotaxime, given in two doses (each 100 mg/kg of body weight), produced a good bactericidal activity (-0.47 Deltalog(10) CFU/ml. h) which was comparable to that of levofloxacin (-0.49 Deltalog(10) CFU/ml. h) against a penicillin-resistant pneumococcal strain WB4 in experimental meningitis. Cefotaxime combined with levofloxacin acted synergistically (-1.04 Deltalog(10) CFU/ml. h). Synergy between cefotaxime and levofloxacin was also demonstrated in vitro in time killing assays and with the checkerboard method for two penicillin-resistant strains (WB4 and KR4). Using in vitro cycling experiments, the addition of cefotaxime in sub-MIC concentrations (one-eighth of the MIC) drastically reduced levofloxacin-induced resistance in the same two strains (64-fold increase of the MIC of levofloxacin after 12 cycles versus 2-fold increase of the MIC of levofloxacin combined with cefotaxime). Mutations detected in the genes encoding topoisomerase IV (parC and parE) and gyrase (gyrA and gyrB) confirmed the levofloxacin-induced resistance in both strains. Addition of cefotaxime in low doses was able to suppress levofloxacin-induced resistance.

Grepafloxacin against penicillin-resistant pneumococci in the rabbit meningitis model.

Grepafloxacin, a new fluoroquinolone, produced bactericidal activity comparable to that of vancomycin and ceftriaxone in the treatment in rabbits of meningitis caused by a pneumococcal strain highly resistant to penicillin (MIC 4 mg/L) (triangle uplog(10) cfu/mL*h for grepafloxacin, -0.32 +/- 0.15; dose, 15 mg/kg iv; triangle uplog(10) cfu/mL*h for vancomycin, -0.39 +/- 0.18; dose, 2 x 20 mg/kg iv; triangle uplog(10) cfu/mL*h for ceftriaxone, -0.32 +/- 0. 12; dose, 125 mg/kg iv). Higher doses of grepafloxacin (30 mg/kg and 2 x 50 mg/kg) did not improve the killing rates. The combination of grepafloxacin with vancomycin was not significantly superior to monotherapies (P > 0.05). In vitro, grepafloxacin was bactericidal at concentrations above the MIC. Using concentrations around the MIC, addition of vancomycin to grepafloxacin showed synergic activity.

Trovafloxacin in combination with vancomycin against penicillin-resistant pneumococci in the rabbit meningitis model.

Trovafloxacin, a new fluoroquinolone, produced bactericidal activity (-0.33 +/- 0.13 delta log10 CFU/ml.h; intravenously [i.v.] administered dose, 15 mg/kg) comparable to that of vancomycin (-0.39 +/- 0.18 delta log10 CFU/ml.h; i.v. admininistered dose, 20 mg/kg) in the treatment of experimental meningitis in rabbits due to a pneumococcal strain highly resistant to penicillin (MIC of penicillin G, 4 micrograms/ml). The combination of both drugs significantly increased (P < 0.05) the killing rate (-0.60 +/- 0.23 delta log10 CFU/ml.h) compared to that produced by either monotherapy. These results were also confirmed in vitro.

The stereochemistry of the amino acid side chain influences the inflammatory potential of muramyl dipeptide in experimental meningitis.

Intrathecal injections of 50 to 100 micro g of (N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine) muramyl dipeptide (MDP)/rabbit dose-dependently triggered tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) secretion (12 to 40,000 pg/ml) preceding the influx of leukocytes in the subarachnoid space of rabbits. Intrathecal instillation of heat-killed unencapsulated R6 pneumococci produced a comparable leukocyte influx but only a minimal level of preceding TNF-alpha secretion. The stereochemistry of the first amino acid (L-alanine) of the MDP played a crucial role with regard to its inflammatory potential. Isomers harboring D-alanine in first position did not induce TNF-alpha secretion and influx of leukocytes. This stereospecificity of MDPs was also confirmed by measuring TNF-alpha release from human peripheral mononuclear blood cells stimulated in vitro. These data show that the inflammatory potential of MDPs depends on the stereochemistry of the first amino acid of the peptide side chain and suggest that intact pneumococci and MDPs induce inflammation by different pathways.