In vitro activity of cefiderocol against comparators (ceftazidime-avibactam, ceftazidime-avibactam/ aztreonam combination, and colistin) against clinical isolates of meropenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae from India.

Cefiderocol (FDC), a novel siderophore drug, is active against Gram-negative bacteria producing carbapenemases, including metallo-beta-lactamases. The objective of this study is to compare the in vitro activity of FDC with ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA), CZA/aztreonam (AT) combination, and colistin (CST), in clinical isolates of meropenem-resistant (MER-R) Klebsiella pneumoniae. From the 2,052 clinical specimens submitted for culture testing, 245 K. pneumoniae isolates were recovered within a 6-month period in 2021. One hundred three non-duplicate, non-outbreak, MER-R (minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC >4 µg/mL) strains were included in the study. Identification and susceptibility were performed using VITEK-2 (bioMérieux). Meropenem-susceptible isolates (n = 10) served as controls. For FDC, broth microdilution (BMD) was performed after in-house standardization. Disk diffusion (Liofilchem, Italy) and broth microdilution (ComASP, STC, Liofilchem, Italy) were used for susceptibility testing of CZA and CST, respectively. Synergy testing for CZA and AT was performed using disk approximation method. CLSI breakpoints were used for the interpretation of the results. For FDC, MIC50 and MIC90 were 2 and 8 µg/mL, respectively. A total of 80% of isolates were susceptible to FDC, 26.2% of isolates were susceptible to CZA, synergy testing with CZA/AT was positive for 74 (72%) of the isolates, and 89.3% were intermediate to CST. Nine (8.7%) were susceptible only to FDC. FDC is active in vitro against MER-R K. pneumoniae >CZA/AT > CZA > CST, as observed in this study, applying CLSI criteria. Clinico-microbiological studies should be performed to assess the clinical efficacy of this novel drug in this region with a high prevalence of carbapenem resistance among Gram-negative organisms. IMPORTANCE Management of infections with multi-drug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae is a major challenge in hospital settings, with few treatment options. In this study, the authors aim to assess the in vitro susceptibility of these clinical isolates to cefiderocol, a novel siderophore. Comparators are colistin, ceftazidime-avibactam, and ceftazidime-avibactam/aztreonam synergy, which are currently available options for treatment in this region. Baseline-resistance rates against cefiderocol are higher than those in the previously published studies, with MIC50 and MIC90 at 2 and 8 µg/mL, respectively.

Single drug therapy in netraroga.

The non-availability of reliable and standardized drugs, their high cost, and ambiguity in the identity of the ingredients used are a few of the major problems encountered today in the utilization of compound drugs in Ayurveda. There is thus an urgent need to reemphasize the use of single plant drug formulations recorded in the classical texts. The present study is an attempt to list out all the single plant drugs mentioned in the treatment of various Netrarogas from the classical texts of Ayurveda and to fix their proper botanical identity. The study of 7 classical texts has revealed that there are 41 single plant drugs in 80 preparations for treating 9 lakshanas and 29 rogas. They have been correlated with their botanical identities based on nomenclature correlation studies published over the last century. The drugs are arranged alphabetically with their botanical names, habit, indications, parts used, method of preparation, mode of administration and the reference, A primary analysis has also been made on the nomenclature, qualities and applications of the drugs.

Regression of atherosclerotic lesions and control of plasma lipids and lipoprotein cholesterol by Anna Pavala Sindhooram therapy.

Plasma and lipoprotein distribution of cholesterol and triglycerides were measured in experimentally induced hypercholesterolemia associated with moderate hypothyroidism and after Anna Pavala Sindhooram (APSm) therapy in rat models. Feeding atherogenic diet increased all the three lipoprotein classes (HDL, LDL and VLDL). When APSm was administered for 90 days at a dose of 30 mg/rat/day, orally with and without atherogenic diet, it brought down the already raised levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in LDL and VLDL. Histological studies on the aorta revealed that APSm therapy produces regression of the atherosclerotic lesions.