In vivo efficacy of ceftolozane against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a rabbit experimental model of pneumonia: comparison with ceftazidime, piperacillin/tazobactam and imipenem.

The aim of this study was to compare ceftolozane with ceftazidime, piperacillin/tazobactam (TZP) and imipenem in an experimental rabbit model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia. Efficacy was assessed following 2 days of treatment by total colony counts in different tissues (lung, spleen and blood culture). Mean ± standard deviation pulmonary bacterial loads were 4.9 ± 0.3, 3.6 ± 0.3, 4.8 ± 0.2, 5.5 ± 0.8 and 3.9 ± 0.3 log10CFU/g of lung for ceftolozane (1g), ceftolozane (2g), ceftazidime, TZP and imipenem, respectively, compared with 6.3 ± 0.9 log10CFU/g of lung for control animals. The higher ceftolozane dose [2g three times daily (t.i.d.)] showed significantly better efficacy than the lower dose (1g t.i.d.). In conclusion, in this rabbit model of P. aeruginosa pneumonia, ceftolozane had an efficacy equivalent to that of comparator agents at a dose of 1g t.i.d. and had better efficacy at a higher dose (2g t.i.d.).

Efficacy of ceftolozane in a murine model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa acute pneumonia: in vivo antimicrobial activity and impact on host inflammatory response.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the activity of ceftolozane, a novel oxyimino-cephalosporin, in comparison with ceftazidime and piperacillin/tazobactam against a multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain using a murine model of pneumonia. METHODS: Quantitative bacteriology, survival, histological examination, myeloperoxidase activity, proinflammatory cytokine levels in lungs and endothelial permeability were evaluated to determine the effects of ceftolozane and comparators on P. aeruginosa-induced pneumonia. RESULTS: After 48 h of treatment, ceftolozane reduced the bacterial load by 3-4 log(10) cfu/g of lung. Systemic dissemination of the pulmonary infection and development of lung damage were inhibited in all ß-lactam-treated animals. P. aeruginosa-induced pneumonia led to elevated concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1ß and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2 in the lungs. While the levels of proinflammatory cytokines decreased following ceftazidime and piperacillin/tazobactam therapy, ceftolozane exhibited increased concentrations of IL-1ß and MIP-2 after 24 h of infection, resulted in significantly increased levels of recruited neutrophils within the infected lung without increasing lung endothelial permeability. CONCLUSIONS: These data strongly support ceftolozane as an effective option for the treatment of severe P. aeruginosa respiratory infections by improving the early pulmonary inflammatory response without impairing 48 h post-infection homeostasis.