Association between low maternal serum aflatoxin B1 exposure and adverse pregnancy outcomes in Mombasa, Kenya, 2017-2019: A nested matched case-control study.

We examined the association between serum aflatoxin B1-lysine adduct (AFB1-lys) levels in pregnant women and adverse pregnancy outcomes (low birthweight, miscarriage and stillbirth) through a nested matched case-control study of pregnant women enroled at ≤28 weeks' gestation in Mombasa, Kenya, from 2017 to 2019. Cases comprised women with an adverse birth outcome, defined as either delivery of a singleton infant weighing <2500 g, or a miscarriage, or a stillbirth, while controls were women who delivered a singleton live infant with a birthweight of ≥2500 g. Cases were matched to controls at a ratio of 1:2 based on maternal age at enrolment, gestational age at enrolment and study site. The primary exposure was serum AFB1-lys. The study included 125 cases and 250 controls. The median gestation age when serum samples were collected was 23.0 weeks (interquartile range [IQR]: 18.1-26.0) and 23.5 (IQR: 18.1-26.5) among cases and controls, respectively. Of the 375 tested sera, 145 (38.7%) had detectable serum AFB1-lys: 36.0% in cases and 40.0% in controls. AFB1-lys adduct levels were not associated with adverse birth outcomes on multivariable analysis. Mid-upper arm circumference was associated with a 6% lower odds of adverse birth outcome for every unit increase (p = 0.023). Two-fifths of pregnant women had detectable levels of aflatoxin midway through pregnancy. However, we did not detect an association with adverse pregnancy outcomes, likely because of low serum AFB1-lys levels and low power, restricting meaningful comparison. More research is needed to understand the public health risk of aflatoxin in pregnant women to unborn children.

Dalbavancin Sequential Therapy for Gram-Positive Bloodstream Infection: A Multicenter Observational Study.

INTRODUCTION: Long-acting lipoglycopeptides such as dalbavancin may have utility in patients with Gram-positive bloodstream infections (BSI), particularly in those with barriers to discharge or who require prolonged parenteral antibiotic courses. A retrospective cohort study was performed to provide further multicenter real-world evidence on dalbavancin use as a sequential therapy for Gram-positive BSI. METHODS: One hundred fifteen patients received dalbavancin with Gram-positive BSI, defined as any positive blood culture or diagnosed with infective endocarditis, from 13 centers geographically spread across the United States between July 2015 and July 2021. RESULTS: Patients had a mean (SD) age of 48.5 (17.5) years, the majority were male (54%), with many who injected drugs (40%). The most common infection sources (non-exclusive) were primary BSI (89%), skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) (25%), infective endocarditis (19%), and bone and joint infection (17%). Staphylococcus aureus accounted for 72% of index cultures, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus accounted for 18%, and Streptococcus species in 16%. Dalbavancin started a median (Q1-Q3) of 10 (6-19) days after index culture collection. The most common regimen administered was dalbavancin 1500 mg as one dose for 50% of cases. The primary outcome of composite clinical failure occurred at 12.2%, with 90-day mortality at 7.0% and 90-day BSI recurrence at 3.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Dalbavancin may serve as a useful tool in facilitating hospital discharge in patients with Gram-positive BSI. Randomized controlled trials are anticipated to validate dalbavancin as a surrogate to current treatment standards.

Phage-antibiotic synergy against daptomycin-nonsusceptible MRSA in an ex vivo simulated endocardial pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model.

Phage-antibiotic combinations (PAC) offer a potential solution for treating refractory daptomycin-nonsusceptible (DNS) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. We examined PAC activity against two well-characterized DNS MRSA strains (C4 and C37) in vitro and ex vivo. PACs comprising daptomycin (DAP) ± ceftaroline (CPT) and a two-phage cocktail (Intesti13 + Sb-1) were evaluated for phage-antibiotic synergy (PAS) against high MRSA inoculum (109 CFU/mL) using (i) modified checkerboards (CB), (ii) 24-h time-kill assays (TKA), and (iii) 168-h ex vivo simulated endocardial vegetation (SEV) models. PAS was defined as a fractional inhibitory concentration ≤0.5 in CB minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) or a ≥2 log10 CFU/mL reduction compared to the next best regimen in time-kill assays and SEV models. Significant differences between regimens were assessed by analysis of variance with Tukey's post hoc modification (α = 0.05). CB assays revealed PAS with Intesti13 + Sb-1 + DAP ± CPT. In 24-h time-kill assays against C4, Intesti13 + Sb-1 + DAP ± CPT demonstrated synergistic activity (-Δ7.21 and -Δ7.39 log10 CFU/mL, respectively) (P < 0.05 each). Against C37, Intesti13 + Sb-1 + CPT ± DAP was equally effective (-Δ7.14 log10 CFU/mL each) and not significantly different from DAP + Intesti13 + Sb-1 (-Δ6.65 log10 CFU/mL). In 168-h SEV models against C4 and C37, DAP ± CPT + the phage cocktail exerted synergistic activities, significantly reducing bio-burdens to the detection limit [2 log10 CFU/g (-Δ7.07 and -Δ7.11 log10 CFU/g, respectively)] (P < 0.001). At 168 h, both models maintained stable MICs, and no treatment-emergent phage resistance occurred with DAP or DAP + CPT regimens. The two-phage cocktail demonstrated synergistic activity against two DNS MRSA isolates in combination with DAP + CPT in vitro and ex vivo. Further in vivo PAC investigations are needed.

Synergistic bactericidal effects of phage-enhanced antibiotic therapy against MRSA biofilms.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causes biofilm-related medical device infections. Phage-antibiotic combinations offer potential therapy due to proven in vitro antibiofilm efficacy. We evaluated phage-antibiotic synergy against biofilms using modified checkerboard and 24-h time-kill assays. Humanized-simulated daptomycin (DAP) (10, 8, and 6 mg/kg q24h) and ceftaroline (CPT) (600 mg q12h) were combined with Intesti13, Sb-1, and Romulus phages (tMOI 1, q12h). Assays were conducted in 168-h biofilm reactor models against DAP non-susceptible (DNS) vancomycin intermediate S. aureus (VISA) MRSA D712 and DAP-susceptible MRSA 8014. Synergistic activity and bactericidal activity were defined as ≥2log10 CFU/mL reduction from antibiotic-only regimens and ≥3log10 CFU/mL decrease from baseline at 24 h. Differences were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance with Tukey's post hoc test (P ≤ 0.05 is considered significant). Surviving bacteria were examined for antibiotic minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) changes and phage susceptibility. In 168-h biofilm models, humanized DAP 10 mg/kg + CPT, combined with a 2-phage cocktail (Intesti13 + Sb-1) against D712, and a 3-phage cocktail (Intesti13 + Sb-1 + Romulus) against 8014, demonstrated synergistic bactericidal activity. At 168 h, bacteria were minimally detectable [2log10 CFU/cm2 (-Δ4.23 and -Δ4.42 log10 CFU/cm2; both P < 0.001)]. Antibiotic MBIC remained unchanged compared to baseline across various time points. None of the tested bacteria at 168 h exhibited complete phage resistance. This study reveals bactericidal efficacy of DAP + CPT with 2-phage and 3-phage cocktails against DNS VISA and MRSA isolates (D712 and 8014) in biofilm models, maintaining susceptibility. Further research is needed for diverse strains and durations, aligning with infection care. IMPORTANCE: The prevalence of biofilm-associated medical device infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a pressing medical challenge. The latest research demonstrates the potential of phage-antibiotic combinations (PACs) as a promising solution, notably in vitro antibiofilm efficacy. By adopting modified checkerboard and 24-h time-kill assays, the study investigated the synergistic action of phages combined with humanized-simulated doses of daptomycin (DAP) and ceftaroline (CPT). The results were promising: a combination of DAP, CPT, and either a 2-phage or 3-phage cocktail effectively exhibited bactericidal activity against both DAP non-susceptible vancomycin intermediate S. aureus MRSA and DAP-susceptible MRSA strains within 168-h biofilm models. Moreover, post-treatment evaluations revealed no discernible rise in antibiotic resistance or complete phage resistance. This pioneering work suggests the potential of PACs in addressing MRSA biofilm infections, setting the stage for further expansive research tailored to diverse bacterial strains and treatment durations.

Cefiderocol: early clinical experience for multi-drug resistant gram-negative infections.

Multi-drug resistant gram-negative bacteria present a significant global health threat. Cefiderocol (CFDC), a siderophore cephalosporin, has shown potential in combating this threat, but with the currently available data, its role in therapy remains poorly defined. This multi-center, retrospective cohort study evaluated the real-world application of CFDC across six U.S. medical centers from January 2018 to May 2023. Patients aged ≥18 years and who had received ≥72 hours of CFDC were included. The primary outcome was a composite of clinical success: survival at 30 days, absence of symptomatic microbiologic recurrence at 30 days following CFDC treatment initiation, and resolution of signs and symptoms. Secondary outcomes included time to CFDC therapy and on-treatment non-susceptibility to CFDC. A total of 112 patients were included, with median (interquartile range [IQR]) APACHE II scores of 15 (19-18). Clinical success was observed in 68.8% of patients, with a mortality rate of 16.1% and comparable success rates across patients infected with carbapenem-resistant gram-negative infections. The most common isolated organisms were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (61/112, 54.5%, of which 55/61 were carbapenem-resistant) and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (32/112, 28.6%). Median (IQR) time to CFDC therapy was 77 (14-141) hours. Two patients experienced a non-anaphylactic rash as an adverse drug reaction. On-treatment non-susceptibility to CFDC was found in six patients, notably due to P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii.IMPORTANCECFDC was safe and clinically effective as a monotherapy or in combination in treating a variety of carbapenem-resistant gram-negative infections. Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Determining Susceptibility and Potential Mediators of Resistance for the Novel Polymyxin Derivative, SPR206, in Acinetobacter baumannii.

With the increase in carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB) infections, there has been a resurgence in the use of polymyxins, specifically colistin (COL). Since the reintroduction of COL-based regimens in treating CRAB infections, several COL-resistant A. baumannii isolates have been identified, with the mechanism of resistance heavily linked with the loss of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) layer of the bacterial outer membrane through mutations in lpxACD genes or the pmrCAB operon. SPR206, a novel polymyxin derivative, has exhibited robust activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii. However, there is a dearth of knowledge regarding its efficacy in comparison with other A. baumannii-active therapeutics and whether traditional polymyxin (COL) mediators of A. baumannii resistance also translate to reduced SPR206 activity. Here, we conducted susceptibility testing using broth microdilution on 30 A. baumannii isolates (17 COL-resistant and 27 CRAB), selected 14 COL-resistant isolates for genomic sequencing analysis, and performed time-kill analyses on four COL-resistant isolates. In susceptibility testing, SPR206 demonstrated a lower range of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) compared with COL, with a four-fold difference observed in MIC50 values. Mutations in lpxACD and/or pmrA and pmrB genes were detected in each of the 14 COL-resistant isolates; however, SPR206 maintained MICs ≤ 2 mg/L for 9/14 (64%) of the isolates. Finally, SPR206-based combination regimens exhibited increased synergistic and bactericidal activity compared with COL-based combination regimens irrespective of the multiple resistance genes detected. The results of this study highlight the potential utility of SPR206 in the treatment of COL-resistant A. baumannii infections.

Understanding vancomycin nephrotoxicity augmented by ß-lactams: a synthesis of endosymbiosis, proximal renal tubule mitochondrial metabolism, and ß-lactam chemistry.

The recent understanding that hydrophobic ß-lactams have greater affinity for organic anion transporter-3 (OAT-3) of the proximal renal tubule could provide valuable insights for anticipating ß-lactams that may exacerbate vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity. Vancomycin alone provides oxidative stress on the highly metabolic proximal tubular cells. Hydrophobic ß-lactams (eg, piperacillin and anti-staphylococcal ß-lactams) could have greater OAT-3 mediated uptake into proximal tubular cells than hydrophilic ß-lactams (eg, most cephalosporins and carbapenems), thereby causing greater mitochondrial stress on these susceptible cells. It remains to be seen whether concomitant drugs that inhibit OAT-3 mediated cellular uptake of ß-lactams into proximal tubular cells or provide antioxidant effects might mitigate ß-lactam augmented vancomycin nephrotoxicity. Furthermore, the serum creatinine rise seen with vancomycin and hydrophobic ß-lactams might represent competition for creatinine-secreting transporters (of which OAT-3 is one), thus, indicating creatinine retention rather than renal injury. In the meantime, clinicians are advised to utilise less nephrotoxic combinations in both empirical and directed antibiotic selection settings until further research is conducted.

Eravacycline, the first four years: health outcomes and tolerability data for 19 hospitals in 5 U.S. regions from 2018 to 2022.

IMPORTANCE: The rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, especially MDR Gram-negatives, poses a significant challenge to clinicians and public health. These resilient bacteria have rendered many traditional antibiotics ineffective, underscoring the urgency for innovative therapeutic solutions. Eravacycline, a broad-spectrum fluorocycline tetracycline antibiotic approved by the FDA in 2018, emerges as a promising candidate, exhibiting potential against a diverse array of MDR bacteria, including Gram-negative, Gram-positive, anaerobic strains, and Mycobacterium. However, comprehensive data on its real-world application remain scarce. This retrospective cohort study, one of the largest of its kind, delves into the utilization of eravacycline across various infectious conditions in the USA during its initial 4 years post-FDA approval. Through assessing clinical, microbiological, and tolerability outcomes, the research offers pivotal insights into eravacycline's efficacy in addressing the pressing global challenge of MDR bacterial infections.

Ciprofloxacin in combination with bacteriophage cocktails against multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in ex vivo simulated endocardial vegetation models.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa-associated infective endocarditis represents difficult-to-treat, deep-seated infections. Phage-antibiotic combinations have shown to eradicate multi-drug resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa, limit the development of phage resistance, and restore antibiotic sensitivity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the activity of phage-ciprofloxacin (CIP) combinations in 4-day ex vivo simulated endocardial vegetation (SEV) models against drug-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates. Two P. aeruginosa isolates, extensively drug-resistant AR351 and MDR I0003-1, were selected for their drug resistance and sensitivity to phage. Three phages [LL-5504721-AH (LL), E2005-C (EC), and 109] and CIP were evaluated alone and in combination for their activity and influence on drug and phage resistance using 24-h time-kill analysis. The three-phage cocktail (q24h) in combination with CIP (400 mg q12h) was then tested in dynamic 4-day ex vivo SEV models, with reduction of log10 CFU/mL compared using ANOVA with Bonferroni analysis. Compared to other combinations, CIP-LL-EC-109 demonstrated synergistic and bactericidal activity from starting CFU/g against AR351 and I0003-1 (-Δ5.65 and 6.60 log10 CFU/g, respectively; P < 0.001). Additionally, CIP-LL-EC-109 mitigated phage resistance, while all other therapies had a high degree of resistance to >1 phages, and all phage-containing regimens prevented CIP mean inhibitory concentration increases compared to CIP alone for both AR351 and I0003-1 at 96 h.

Targeting Dalbavancin Inoculum Effect: Adjunctive Single Dose of Daptomycin.

INTRODUCTION: Daptomycin (DAP) has proven to be a viable alternative amid vancomycin resistance; however, the use of DAP post vancomycin treatment has led to the development of DAP non-susceptible (DNS) strains. Dalbavancin (DAL), a novel single-dosed lipoglycopeptide, has shown enhanced activity against highly resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains. However, on the basis of previous reports and our observations, DAL does not demonstrate similar activity at high versus low inoculum levels. Therefore, we hypothesized that addition of DAP even at minimal concentrations (single dose on day 1) will lower the inoculum to the level that can be cleared by dalbavancin. METHODS: Isolates from methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA)-infected patients with varying susceptibility profiles were evaluated using broth microdilution methods. Two DNS-VISA strains (vancomycin intermediate resistant S. aureus) and one MRSA strain were further evaluated in a one-compartment PK/PD model using a high starting initial inoculum of 109 CFU/mL as well as low initial inoculum of 107 CFU/mL over 168 h to assess the activity of DAL and DAP monotherapy and in combination. RESULTS: Single therapies were not bactericidal when evaluated in the 168 h in vitro one-compartment model with an initial inoculum of 109; however, the combination of DAL plus single dose of DAP resulted in enhanced killing at the end of the 168-h exposure. DAL single therapy caused reduction in colony counts down to detection limit (2 log10 CFU/ml) at a lower inoculum but did not show enhancement (< 2 log10 CFU/ml) at higher initial inoculums (P < 0.01) for all three strains. Similarly, DAP caused initial bacterial reduction up to 4 log10 CFU/ml with regrowth at about 32 h of exposure, which stayed at initial inoculum levels for the duration of the model for all three strains. CONCLUSIONS: Dalbavancin inoculum effect is a major issue in bacterial infections with high bacterial loads and the combination of DAL plus single dose of DAP showed promise in eradicating resistant S. aureus strains at high inoculums.

Phage-antibiotic combinations against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in in vitro static and dynamic biofilm models.

Biofilm-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections pose a severe threat to public health and are responsible for high morbidity and mortality. Phage-antibiotic combinations (PACs) are a promising strategy for combatting multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and difficult-to-treat P. aeruginosa infections. Ten MDR/XDR P. aeruginosa strains and five P. aeruginosa-specific phages were genetically characterized and evaluated based upon their antibiotic susceptibilities and phage sensitivities. Two selected strains, AR351 (XDR) and I0003-1 (MDR), were treated singly and in combination with either a broad-spectrum or narrow-spectrum phage, phage EM-T3762627-2_AH (EM), or 14207, respectively, and bactericidal antibiotics of five classes in biofilm time-kill analyses. Synergy and/or bactericidal activity was demonstrated with all PACs against one or both drug-resistant P. aeruginosa strains (average reduction: -Δ3.32 log10 CFU/cm2). Slightly improved ciprofloxacin susceptibility was observed in both strains after exposure to phages (EM and 14207) in combination with ciprofloxacin and colistin. Based on phage cocktail optimization with four phages (EM, 14207, E20050-C (EC), and 109), we identified several effective phage-antibiotic cocktails for further analysis in a 4-day pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic in vitro biofilm model. Three-phage cocktail, EM + EC + 109, in combination with ciprofloxacin demonstrated the greatest biofilm reduction against AR351 (-Δ4.70 log10 CFU/cm2 from baseline). Of remarkable interest, the addition of phage 109 prevented phage resistance development to EM and EC in the biofilm model. PACs can demonstrate synergy and offer enhanced eradication of biofilm against drug-resistant P. aeruginosa while preventing the emergence of resistance.

Weighing the Odds: Novel ß-Lactam/ß-Lactamase Inhibitor Use in Hospital-Acquired and Ventilator-Associated Pseudomonas aeruginosa Pneumonia for Patients Who Are Morbidly Obese.

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a leading cause of hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP). Novel ß-lactam/ß-lactamase inhibitor (BL/BLI) combinations are often used for these infections; however, limited data exist to guide the dosing of BL/BLI in patients who are morbidly obese. Thus, we sought to evaluate the clinical and safety endpoints of patients who are morbidly obese (body mass index ≥35 kg/m2) and non-morbidly obese (<35 kg/m2) and receiving BL/BLI for P aeruginosa HABP/VABP. Methods: This retrospective study was based on a cohort of patients hospitalized at 2 urban academic medical centers in Detroit, Michigan, from August 2014 through February 2021 with P aeruginosa HABP/VABP who were receiving BL/BLI (ceftazidime/avibactam, ceftolozane/tazobactam, or meropenem/vaborbactam) for ≥72 continuous hours. The primary endpoint was presumed treatment failure, defined as the presence of all-cause in-hospital mortality or the continuation of infectious symptoms. Analyses were adjusted for possible confounding with inverse probability of treatment weighting. Multivariable regression was used to identify predictors of treatment failure. Results: In total, 285 patients with HABP (61.4%) and/or VABP (56.1%) were enrolled (morbidly obese, n = 95; non-morbidly obese, n = 190). The median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was 23 (IQR, 13-26), and 60% of patients were admitted to the intensive care unit at index culture collection. Patients who were morbidly obese demonstrated significantly greater odds of presumed treatment failure vs those who were non-morbidly obese (58.9% vs 37.9%, respectively; adjusted odds ratio, 1.675 [95% CI, 1.465-1.979]). In multivariable analysis, morbid obesity (1.06; 95% CI, 1.02-1.79), prolonged time to BL/BLI initiation (1.47; 95% CI, 1.28-2.66), renal dose-adjusted BL/BLI in the first 48 hours of therapy (1.12; 95% CI, 1.09-1.75), and continuous renal replacement therapy during BL/BLI therapy (1.35; 95% CI, 1.06-1.68) were independently associated with increased odds of presumed treatment failure. Conclusions: Among hospitalized patients receiving BL/BLI for P aeruginosa HABP/VABP, those who were morbidly obese had significantly greater odds of presumed treatment failure when compared with those who were non-morbidly obese.

Long-term evaluation of clinical success and safety of omadacycline in nontuberculous mycobacteria infections: a retrospective, multicenter cohort of real-world health outcomes.

Infections due to nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) continue to increase in prevalence, leading to problematic clinical outcomes. Omadacycline (OMC) is an aminomethylcycline antibiotic with FDA orphan drug and fast-track designations for pulmonary NTM infections, including Mycobacteroides abscessus (MAB). This multicenter retrospective study across 16 U.S. medical institutions from January 2020 to March 2023 examined the long-term clinical success, safety, and tolerability of OMC for NTM infections. The cohort included patients aged ≥18 yr, who were clinically evaluable, and` had been treated with OMC for ≥3 mo without a previous diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. The primary outcome was 3 mo clinical success, with secondary outcomes including clinical improvement and mortality at 6- and 12 mo, persistence or reemergence of infection, adverse effects, and reasons for OMC utilization. Seventy-five patients were included in this analysis. Most patients were female (48/75, 64.0%) or Caucasian (58/75, 77.3%), with a median (IQR) age of 59 yr (49-67). Most had NTM pulmonary disease (33/75, 44.0%), skin and soft tissue disease (19/75, 25.3%), or osteomyelitis (10/75, 13.3%), and Mycobacterium abscessus (60/75, 80%) was the most commonly isolated NTM pathogen. The median (IQR) treatment duration was 6 mo (4 - 14), and the most commonly co-administered antibiotic was azithromycin (33/70, 47.1%). Three-month clinical success was observed in 80.0% (60/75) of patients, and AEs attributable to OMC occurred in 32.0% (24/75) of patients, leading to drug discontinuation in 9.3% (7/75).

Colistin Monotherapy versus Combination Therapy for Carbapenem-Resistant Organisms.

BACKGROUND: Pneumonia and bloodstream infections (BSI) due to extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Acinetobacter baumannii, XDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are associated with high mortality rates, and therapeutic options remain limited. This trial assessed whether combination therapy with colistin and meropenem was superior to colistin monotherapy for the treatment of these infections. METHODS: The OVERCOME (Colistin Monotherapy versus Combination Therapy) trial was an international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. We randomly assigned participants to receive colistin (5 mg/kg once followed by 1.67 mg/kg every 8 hours) in combination with either meropenem (1000 mg every 8 hours) or matching placebo for the treatment of pneumonia and/or BSI caused by XDR A. baumannii, XDR P. aeruginosa, or CRE. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, and secondary outcomes included clinical failure and microbiologic cure. RESULTS: Between 2012 and 2020, a total of 464 participants were randomly assigned to treatment, and 423 eligible patients comprised the modified intention-to-treat population. A. baumannii was the predominant trial pathogen (78%) and pneumonia the most common index infection (70%). Most patients were in the intensive care unit at the time of enrollment (69%). There was no difference in mortality (43 vs. 37%; P=0.17), clinical failure (65 vs. 58%; difference, 6.8 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], -3.1 to 16.6), microbiologic cure (65 vs. 60%; difference, 4.8 percentage points; 95% CI, -5.6 to 15.2), or adverse events (acute kidney injury, 52 vs. 49% [P=0.55]; hypersensitivity reaction, 1 vs. 3% [P=0.22]; and neurotoxicity, 5 vs. 2% [P=0.29]) between patients receiving monotherapy and combination therapy, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Combination therapy with colistin and meropenem was not superior to colistin monotherapy for the treatment of pneumonia or BSI caused by these pathogens. (Funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases protocol 10-0065; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01597973.).

Phage-Antibiotic Cocktail Rescues Daptomycin and Phage Susceptibility against Daptomycin-Nonsusceptible Enterococcus faecium in a Simulated Endocardial Vegetation Ex Vivo Model.

Enterococcus faecium is a difficult-to-treat pathogen with emerging resistance to most clinically available antibiotics. Daptomycin (DAP) is the standard of care, but even high DAP doses (12 mg/kg body weight/day) failed to eradicate some vancomycin-resistant strains. Combination DAP-ceftaroline (CPT) may increase ß-lactam affinity for target penicillin binding proteins (PBP); however, in a simulated endocardial vegetation (SEV) pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model, DAP-CPT did not achieve therapeutic efficacy against a DAP-nonsusceptible (DNS) vancomycin-resistant E. faecium (VRE) isolate. Phage-antibiotic combinations (PAC) have been proposed for resistant high-inoculum infections. We aimed to identify PAC with maximum bactericidal activity and prevention/reversal of phage and antibiotic resistance in an SEV PK/PD model against DNS isolate R497. Phage-antibiotic synergy (PAS) was evaluated with modified checkerboard MIC and 24-h time-kill analyses (TKA). Human-simulated antibiotic doses of DAP and CPT with phages NV-497 and NV-503-01 were then evaluated in 96-h SEV PK/PD models against R497. Synergistic and bactericidal activity was identified with the PAC of DAP-CPT combined with phage cocktail NV-497-NV-503-01, demonstrating a significant reduction in viability down to 3-log10 CFU/g (-Δ, 5.77-log10 CFU/g; P < 0.001). This combination also demonstrated isolate resensitization to DAP. Evaluation of phage resistance post-SEV demonstrated prevention of phage resistance for PACs containing DAP-CPT. Our results provide novel data highlighting bactericidal and synergistic activity of PAC against a DNS E. faecium isolate in a high-inoculum ex vivo SEV PK/PD model with subsequent DAP resensitization and prevention of phage resistance. IMPORTANCE Our study supports the additional benefit of standard-of-care antibiotics combined with a phage cocktail compared to antibiotic alone against a daptomycin-nonsusceptible (DNS) E. faecium isolate in a high-inoculum simulated endocardial vegetation ex vivo PK/PD model. E. faecium is a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Daptomycin is considered the first-line therapy for vancomycin-resistant E. faecium (VRE), but the highest published doses have failed to eradicate some VRE isolates. The addition of a ß-lactam to daptomycin may result in synergistic activity, but previous in vitro data demonstrate that daptomycin plus ceftaroline failed to eradicate a VRE isolate. Phage therapy as an adjunct to antibiotic therapy has been proposed as a salvage therapy for high-inoculum infections; however, pragmatic clinical comparison trials for endocarditis are lacking and difficult to design, reinforcing the timeliness of such analysis.

Evaluation of Omadacycline Alone and in Combination with Rifampin against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis in an In Vitro Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Biofilm Model.

Biofilm-associated infections lead to substantial morbidity. Omadacycline (OMC) is a novel aminomethylcycline with potent in vitro activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, but data surrounding its use in biofilm-associated infections are lacking. We investigated the activity of OMC alone and in combination with rifampin (RIF) against 20 clinical strains of staphylococci in multiple in vitro biofilm analyses, including an in vitro pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) CDC biofilm reactor (CBR) model (simulating human exposures). The observed MICs for OMC demonstrated potent activity against the evaluated strains (0.125 to 1 mg/L), with an increase of MICs generally observed in the presence of biofilm (0.25 to >64 mg/L). Furthermore, RIF was shown to reduce OMC biofilm MICs (bMICs) in 90% of strains, and OMC plus RIF combination in biofilm time-kill analyses (TKAs) exhibited synergistic activity in most of the strains. Within the PK/PD CBR model, OMC monotherapy primarily displayed bacteriostatic activity, while RIF monotherapy generally exhibited initial bacterial eradication, followed by rapid regrowth likely due to the emergence of RIF resistance (RIF bMIC, >64 mg/L). However, the combination of OMC plus RIF produced rapid and sustained bactericidal activity in nearly all the strains (3.76 to 4.03 log10 CFU/cm2 reductions from starting inoculum in strains in which bactericidal activity was reached). Furthermore, OMC was shown to prevent the emergence of RIF resistance. Our data provide preliminary evidence that OMC in combination with RIF could be a viable option for biofilm-associated infections with S. aureus and S. epidermidis. Further research involving OMC in biofilm-associated infections is warranted.

Steno-sphere: Navigating the enigmatic world of emerging multidrug-resistant Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an opportunistic pathogen and frequent cause of serious nosocomial infections. Patient populations at greatest risk for these infections include the immunocompromised and those with chronic respiratory illnesses and prior antibiotic exposure, notably to carbapenems. Its complex virulence and resistance profile drastically limit available antibiotics, and incomplete breakpoint and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) data to inform dose optimization further complicates therapeutic approaches. Clinical comparison data of first-line agents, including trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), quinolones, and minocycline, are limited to conflicting observational data with no clear benefit of a single agent or combination therapy. Newer antibiotic approaches, including cefiderocol and aztreonam- avibactam, are promising alternatives for extensively drug-resistant isolates; however, clinical outcomes data are needed. The potential clinical utility of bacteriophage for compassionate use in treating S. maltophilia infections remains to be determined since data is limited to in-vitro and sparse in-vivo work. This article provides a review of available literature for S. maltophilia infection management focused on related epidemiology, resistance mechanisms, identification, susceptibility testing, antimicrobial PK/PD, and emerging therapeutic strategies.

Optimization of Phage-Antibiotic Combinations against Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms.

Phage therapy has gained attention due to the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and narrow pipeline of novel antibiotics. Phage cocktails are hypothesized to slow the overall development of resistance by challenging the bacteria with more than one phage. Here, we have used a combination of plate-, planktonic-, and biofilm-based screening assays to try to identify phage-antibiotic combinations that will eradicate preformed biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus strains that are otherwise difficult to kill. We have focused on methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) strains and their daptomycin-nonsusceptible vancomycin-intermediate (DNS-VISA) derivatives to understand whether the phage-antibiotic interactions are altered by the changes associated with evolution from MRSA to DNS-VISA (which is known to occur in patients receiving antibiotic therapy). We evaluated the host range and cross-resistance patterns of five obligately lytic S. aureus myophages to select a three-phage cocktail. We screened these phages for their activity against 24-h bead biofilms and found that biofilms of two strains, D712 (DNS-VISA) and 8014 (MRSA), were the most resistant to killing by single phages. Specifically, even initial phage concentrations of 107 PFU per well could not prevent visible regrowth of bacteria from the treated biofilms. However, when we treated biofilms of the same two strains with phage-antibiotic combinations, we prevented bacterial regrowth when using up to 4 orders of magnitude less phage and antibiotic concentrations that were lower than our measured minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration. We did not see a consistent association between phage activity and the evolution of DNS-VISA genotypes in this small number of bacterial strains. IMPORTANCE The extracellular polymeric matrix of biofilms presents an impediment to antibiotic diffusion, facilitating the emergence of multidrug-resistant populations. While most phage cocktails are designed for the planktonic state of bacteria, it is important to take the biofilm mode of growth (the predominant mode of bacterial growth in nature) into consideration, as it is unclear how interactions between any specific phage and its bacterial hosts will depend on the physical properties of the growth environment. In addition, the extent of bacterial sensitivity to any given phage may vary from the planktonic to the biofilm state. Therefore, phage-containing treatments targeting biofilm infections such as catheters and prosthetic joint material may not be merely based on host range characteristics. Our results open avenues to new questions regarding phage-antibiotic treatment efficiency in the eradication of topologically structured biofilm settings and the extent of eradication efficacy relative to the single agents in biofilm populations.

Sulbactam-durlobactam: A novel ß-lactam-ß-lactamase inhibitor combination targeting carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections.

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) is a difficult-to-treat nosocomial pathogen responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. Sulbactam-durlobactam (SUL-DUR), formerly ETX2514SUL, is a novel ß-lactam-ß-lactamase inhibitor designed specifically for the treatment of CRAB infections. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fast-track approval of SUL-DUR for the treatment of CRAB infections is currently pending after completion of the phase III ATTACK trial, which compared SUL-DUR to colistin, both in combination with imipenem-cilastatin (IMI) for patients with CRAB-associated hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia, ventilator-associated pneumonia, and bacteremia. The results of this trial demonstrated that SUL-DUR was non-inferior to colistin for CRAB while also possessing a much more favorable safety profile. SUL-DUR was well-tolerated with the most common side effects being headache, nausea, and injection-site phlebitis. With the current landscape of limited effective treatment options for CRAB infections, SUL-DUR represents a promising therapeutic option for the treatment of these severe infections. This review will discuss the pharmacology, spectrum of activity, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, in vitro and clinical studies, safety, dosing, administration, as well as the potential role in therapy for SUL-DUR.

Outbreak report of polymyxin-carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae causing untreatable infections evidenced by synergy tests and bacterial genomes.

Polymyxin-carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (PCR-Kp) with pan (PDR)- or extensively drug-resistant phenotypes has been increasingly described worldwide. Here, we report a PCR-Kp outbreak causing untreatable infections descriptively correlated with bacterial genomes. Hospital-wide surveillance of PCR-Kp was initiated in December-2014, after the first detection of a K. pneumoniae phenotype initially classified as PDR, recovered from close spatiotemporal cases of a sentinel hospital in Rio de Janeiro. Whole-genome sequencing of clinical PCR-Kp was performed to investigate similarities and dissimilarities in phylogeny, resistance and virulence genes, plasmid structures and genetic polymorphisms. A target phenotypic profile was detected in 10% (12/117) of the tested K. pneumoniae complex bacteria recovered from patients (8.5%, 8/94) who had epidemiological links and were involved in intractable infections and death, with combined therapeutic drugs failing to meet synergy. Two resistant bacterial clades belong to the same transmission cluster (ST437) or might have different sources (ST11). The severity of infection was likely related to patients' comorbidities, lack of antimicrobial therapy and predicted bacterial genes related to high resistance, survival, and proliferation. This report contributes to the actual knowledge about the natural history of PCR-Kp infection, while reporting from a time when there were no licensed drugs in the world to treat some of these infections. More studies comparing clinical findings with bacterial genetic markers during clonal spread are needed.