Cefiderocol Treatment for Patients with Multidrug- and Carbapenem-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections in the Compassionate Use Program.

Cefiderocol is an option for infections caused by multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but its in vitro activity against these isolates and its clinical effectiveness for isolates with MICs of >1 µg/mL is unclear. We investigated the in vitro activity of cefiderocol against P. aeruginosa isolates collected from patients treated with cefiderocol through the compassionate use program and assessed physician-reported clinical response and 28-day all-cause mortality by cefiderocol MIC values. P. aeruginosa isolates underwent susceptibility testing to cefiderocol and comparator agents by using reference broth microdilution. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA; susceptible, ≤1 µg/mL) and Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI; susceptible, ≤4 µg/mL) cefiderocol breakpoints were applied. Additionally, molecular characterization of ß-lactamase genes was performed. Clinical response and vital status were reported by treating physicians. Forty-six patients with P. aeruginosa infections were evaluated. Twenty-nine (63%) and 42 (91%) isolates were susceptible to cefiderocol using FDA and CLSI breakpoints, respectively. Thirty-seven (80%) and 32 (70%) isolates were not susceptible to ceftolozane-tazobactam and ceftazidime-avibactam, respectively. The clinical response rate was 69% (20/29) with a cefiderocol MIC of ≤1 µg/mL, 69% (9/13) with a cefiderocol MIC of 2 to 4 µg/mL, and 100% (4/4) with an MIC of ≥8 µg/mL, while day 28 all-cause mortality rates were 23% (6/26; MIC ≤ 1 µg/mL), 33% (4/12; MIC, 2 to 4 µg/mL), and 0% (0/4; MIC ≥8 µg/mL), respectively. Cefiderocol was active in vitro against most P. aeruginosa isolated from patients with limited or no alternative therapies. Patients with cefiderocol MICs of 2 to 4 µg/mL did not have significantly worse outcomes than those with MICs of ≤1 µg/mL.

Structured patient interview to assess clinical outcomes in complicated urinary tract infections in the APEKS-cUTI study: pilot investigation.

BACKGROUND: The APEKS-cUTI study demonstrated the non-inferiority of cefiderocol to imipenem-cilastatin in the primary endpoint of the composite of clinical and microbiological outcome in patients with complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs). We piloted a structured patient interview (SPI) to evaluate clinical outcomes based on patient-reported symptoms while conducting this pivotal randomized, double-blind, phase-2 study. The objectives were to assess the value of the SPI, using its performance relative to physician assessment, and also to strengthen the value of patient-reported measures in conducting clinical trials for cUTI treatment. METHODS: In addition to the protocol-defined clinical and microbiological outcomes, patients randomized in the APEKS-cUTI study were interviewed by the investigator or qualified study personnel at screening/baseline, early assessment (EA), end of treatment (EOT), test of cure (TOC), and follow-up (FUP). The 14-element questionnaire graded cUTI symptoms as absent or present, and if present, as mild, moderate, or severe. Changes in post-baseline symptoms based on patients' responses were rated by the interviewer. The overall clinical outcome was evaluated based on the responses provided by patients at each time point. RESULTS: Among the 371 patients in the modified intention-to-treat population, the rate of SPI completion in each treatment arm exceeded 90% at each time point. SPI-assessed clinical cure rates were 89.7% in the cefiderocol arm and 84.9% in the imipenem-cilastatin arm. There was substantial agreement between SPI evaluation and investigator global assessment of clinical outcome at TOC and FUP, with lower agreement at EA and EOT. CONCLUSION: This analysis suggests that patient-reported symptoms can be effectively captured in hospitalized patients with cUTI in a clinical trial setting. Development of a validated patient-reported outcome for use in such a setting is warranted. REGISTRATION: NCT02321800 (registered on 22 December 2014).

Efficacy and safety of cefiderocol or best available therapy for the treatment of serious infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (CREDIBLE-CR): a randomised, open-label, multicentre, pathogen-focused, descriptive, phase 3 trial.

BACKGROUND: New antibiotics are needed for the treatment of patients with life-threatening carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative infections. We assessed the efficacy and safety of cefiderocol versus best available therapy in adults with serious carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative infections. METHODS: We did a randomised, open-label, multicentre, parallel-group, pathogen-focused, descriptive, phase 3 study in 95 hospitals in 16 countries in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. We enrolled patients aged 18 years or older admitted to hospital with nosocomial pneumonia, bloodstream infections or sepsis, or complicated urinary tract infections (UTI), and evidence of a carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative pathogen. Participants were randomly assigned (2:1 by interactive web or voice response system) to receive either a 3-h intravenous infusion of cefiderocol 2 g every 8 h or best available therapy (pre-specified by the investigator before randomisation and comprised of a maximum of three drugs) for 7-14 days. For patients with pneumonia or bloodstream infection or sepsis, cefiderocol treatment could be combined with one adjunctive antibiotic (excluding polymyxins, cephalosporins, and carbapenems). The primary endpoint for patients with nosocomial pneumonia or bloodstream infection or sepsis was clinical cure at test of cure (7 days [plus or minus 2] after the end of treatment) in the carbapenem-resistant microbiological intention-to-treat population (ITT; ie, patients with a confirmed carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative pathogen receiving at least one dose of study drug). For patients with complicated UTI, the primary endpoint was microbiological eradication at test of cure in the carbapenem-resistant microbiological ITT population. Safety was evaluated in the safety population, consisting of all patients who received at least one dose of study drug. Mortality was reported through to the end of study visit (28 days [plus or minus 3] after the end of treatment). Summary statistics, including within-arm 95% CIs calculated using the Clopper-Pearson method, were collected for the primary and safety endpoints. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02714595) and EudraCT (2015-004703-23). FINDINGS: Between Sept 7, 2016, and April 22, 2019, we randomly assigned 152 patients to treatment, 101 to cefiderocol, 51 to best available therapy. 150 patients received treatment: 101 cefiderocol (85 [85%] received monotherapy) and 49 best available therapy (30 [61%] received combination therapy). In 118 patients in the carbapenem-resistant microbiological ITT population, the most frequent carbapenem-resistant pathogens were Acinetobacter baumannii (in 54 patients [46%]), Klebsiella pneumoniae (in 39 patients [33%]), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (in 22 patients [19%]). In the same population, for patients with nosocomial pneumonia, clinical cure was achieved by 20 (50%, 95% CI 33·8-66·2) of 40 patients in the cefiderocol group and ten (53%, 28·9-75·6) of 19 patients in the best available therapy group; for patients with bloodstream infection or sepsis, clinical cure was achieved by ten (43%, 23·2-65·5) of 23 patients in the cefiderocol group and six (43%, 17·7-71·1) of 14 patients in the best available therapy group. For patients with complicated UTIs, microbiological eradication was achieved by nine (53%, 27·8-77·0) of 17 patients in the cefiderocol group and one (20%, 0·5-71·6) of five patients in the best available therapy group. In the safety population, treatment-emergent adverse events were noted for 91% (92 patients of 101) of the cefiderocol group and 96% (47 patients of 49) of the best available therapy group. 34 (34%) of 101 patients receiving cefiderocol and nine (18%) of 49 patients receiving best available therapy died by the end of the study; one of these deaths (in the best available therapy group) was considered to be related to the study drug. INTERPRETATION: Cefiderocol had similar clinical and microbiological efficacy to best available therapy in this heterogeneous patient population with infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Numerically more deaths occurred in the cefiderocol group, primarily in the patient subset with Acinetobacter spp infections. Collectively, the findings from this study support cefiderocol as an option for the treatment of carbapenem-resistant infections in patients with limited treatment options. FUNDING: Shionogi.

Cefiderocol versus high-dose, extended-infusion meropenem for the treatment of Gram-negative nosocomial pneumonia (APEKS-NP): a randomised, double-blind, phase 3, non-inferiority trial.

BACKGROUND: Nosocomial pneumonia due to multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens poses an increasing challenge. We compared the efficacy and safety of cefiderocol versus high-dose, extended-infusion meropenem for adults with nosocomial pneumonia. METHODS: We did a randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, phase 3, non-inferiority trial in 76 centres in 17 countries in Asia, Europe, and the USA (APEKS-NP). We enrolled adults aged 18 years and older with hospital-acquired, ventilator-associated, or health-care-associated Gram-negative pneumonia, and randomly assigned them (1:1 by interactive response technology) to 3-h intravenous infusions of either cefiderocol 2 g or meropenem 2 g every 8 h for 7-14 days. All patients also received open-label intravenous linezolid (600 mg every 12 h) for at least 5 days. An unmasked pharmacist prepared the assigned treatments; investigators and patients were masked to treatment assignment. Only the unmasked pharmacist was aware of the study drug assignment for the infusion bags, which were administered in generic infusion bags labelled with patient and study site identification numbers. Participants were stratified at randomisation by infection type and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score (≤15 and ≥16). The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality at day 14 in the modified intention-to-treat (ITT) population (ie, all patients receiving at least one dose of study drug, excluding patients with Gram-positive monomicrobial infections). The analysis was done for all patients with known vital status. Non-inferiority was concluded if the upper bound of the 95% CI for the treatment difference between cefiderocol and meropenem groups was less than 12·5%. Safety was investigated to the end of the study in the safety population, which included all patients who received at least one dose of study drug. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03032380, and EudraCT, 2016-003020-23. FINDINGS: Between Oct 23, 2017, and April 14, 2019, we randomly assigned 148 participants to cefiderocol and 152 to meropenem. Of 292 patients in the modified ITT population, 251 (86%) had a qualifying baseline Gram-negative pathogen, including Klebsiella pneumoniae (92 [32%]), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (48 [16%]), Acinetobacter baumannii (47 [16%]), and Escherichia coli (41 [14%]). 142 (49%) patients had an APACHE II score of 16 or more, 175 (60%) were mechanically ventilated, and 199 (68%) were in intensive care units at the time of randomisation. All-cause mortality at day 14 was 12·4% with cefiderocol (18 patients of 145) and 11·6% with meropenem (17 patients of 146; adjusted treatment difference 0·8%, 95% CI -6·6 to 8·2; p=0·002 for non-inferiority hypothesis). Treatment-emergent adverse events were reported in 130 (88%) of 148 participants in the cefiderocol group and 129 (86%) of 150 in the meropenem group. The most common treatment-emergent adverse event was urinary tract infection in the cefiderocol group (23 patients [16%] of 148) and hypokalaemia in the meropenem group (23 patients [15%] of 150). Two participants (1%) of 148 in the cefiderocol group and two (1%) of 150 in the meropenem group discontinued the study because of drug-related adverse events. INTERPRETATION: Cefiderocol was non-inferior to high-dose, extended-infusion meropenem in terms of all-cause mortality on day 14 in patients with Gram-negative nosocomial pneumonia, with similar tolerability. The results suggest that cefiderocol is a potential option for the treatment of patients with nosocomial pneumonia, including those caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. FUNDING: Shionogi.

Designing A Pathogen-Focused Study To Address The High Unmet Medical Need Represented By Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Pathogens - The International, Multicenter, Randomized, Open-Label, Phase 3 CREDIBLE-CR Study.

Carbapenem-resistant (CR) Gram-negative infections, including those caused by Enterobacteriaceae and the non-fermenters, represent the greatest unmet need for new effective treatments. The clinical development of new antibiotics for the treatment of CR infections is challenging and should focus on the individual pathogens irrespective of the infection site. However, the drug approval pathway is generally infection-site specific and rarely includes such drug-resistant pathogens. To overcome this limitation, a streamlined clinical development program may include a pathogen-focused clinical study, such as the CREDIBLE-CR study, to meet the expectations of some health authorities (ie, the European Medicines Agency [EMA]) and the medical community. Cefiderocol is a novel siderophore cephalosporin designed to target CR pathogens, including CR strains of Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and also Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, which is intrinsically CR. The CREDIBLE-CR study was planned to evaluate cefiderocol in patients with CR Gram-negative infections regardless of species or infection-site source. Rapid diagnostic testing and/or selective media were provided to facilitate detection of CR pathogens to rapidly enroll patients with nosocomial pneumonia, bloodstream infection/sepsis, or complicated urinary tract infection. Patients were randomized 2:1 to receive cefiderocol or best available therapy. There were no pre-specified statistical hypotheses for this study, as the sample size was driven by enrollment feasibility and not based on statistical power calculations. The objective of the CREDIBLE-CR study was to provide descriptive evidence of the efficacy and safety of cefiderocol for the target population of patients with CR infections, including the non-fermenters. The CREDIBLE-CR study is currently the largest pathogen-focused, randomized, open-label, prospective, Phase 3 clinical study to investigate a new antibiotic in patients with CR Gram-negative infections. Here we describe the design of this pathogen-focused study and steps taken to aid patient enrollment into the study within an evolving regulatory environment. CLINICALTRIALSGOV REGISTRATION: NCT02714595. EUDRA-CT REGISTRATION: 2015-004703-23.

Pathogen-focused Clinical Development to Address Unmet Medical Need: Cefiderocol Targeting Carbapenem Resistance.

Historically, the regulatory requirements of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for developing new antibiotics have not addressed pathogen-focused indications for drug approval. The design of the necessary randomized controlled trials traditionally involves the enrollment of patients with site-specific infections caused by susceptible as well as resistant pathogens. Cefiderocol has undergone a streamlined clinical development program to address serious carbapenem-resistant infections. The regulatory approach, and the pivotal clinical trials, differed between the FDA and EMA. In the United States, the APEKS-cUTI (Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Stenotrophomonas-complicated urinary tract infection) study was conducted to provide the basis for FDA approval of a site-specific cUTI indication. The EMA, however, preferred the CREDIBLE-CR (A MultiCenter, RandomizED, Open-label ClInical Study of S-649266 or Best AvailabLE Therapy for the Treatment of Severe Infections Caused by Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-negative Pathogens) study, in which patients with nosocomial pneumonia, bloodstream infections, or cUTIs were enrolled if they had a carbapenem-resistant pathogen. The resulting European label will be pathogen focused rather than infection site specific (ie, treatment of gram-negative infection in patients with limited treatment options). The implications and limitations of these different regulatory processes are discussed.

Effect of Cefiderocol, a Siderophore Cephalosporin, on QT/QTc Interval in Healthy Adult Subjects.

PURPOSE: Cefiderocol is a novel siderophore cephalosporin with potent activity against gram-negative bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains. This Phase I study was conducted to assess the tolerability of single-ascending doses of cefiderocol (part 1) and the effect of cefiderocol on cardiac repolarization, assessed using the electrocardiographic corrected QT interval (QTcF) and other ECG parameters (part 2), in healthy adult subjects. METHODS: Part 1 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-ascending dose study in healthy adult male and female subjects. Part 2 was a 4-period crossover study in which subjects received a single 2-g dose of cefiderocol (therapeutic dose), a single 4-g dose of cefiderocol (supratherapeutic dose), or saline (placebo), each infused over 3 hours, and a single oral 400-mg dose of moxifloxacin. In each treatment period, continuous cardiac monitoring was used to assess the effects of cefiderocol on ECG parameters. The QT interval corrected using the Fridericia formula (QTcF) was the primary ECG parameter; the time-matched placebo- and baseline-adjusted (dd)-QTcF interval was the primary end point. The plasma pharmacokinetic properties of cefiderocol were calculated on the basis of concentration-time profiles in all evaluable subjects. FINDINGS: All point estimates for the ddQTcF interval were <5 ms and the upper bound of the 90% CIs were <10 ms at each timepoint after the initiation of the cefiderocol 3-hour infusion. Concentration-effect modeling showed a slightly negative slope and predicted modestly negative values of the ddQTcF interval at the Cmax of cefiderocol. Both doses of cefiderocol were well tolerated. All adverse events were mild in severity, with no deaths or serious adverse events reported. IMPLICATIONS: Overall, therapeutic and supratherapeutic doses of cefiderocol had no apparent clinically significant effect on the QTcF.

Lusutrombopag for the Treatment of Thrombocytopenia in Patients With Chronic Liver Disease Undergoing Invasive Procedures (L-PLUS 2).

Thrombocytopenia may be associated with increased bleeding risk impacting timing and outcome of invasive procedures in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Lusutrombopag, a small-molecule, thrombopoietin (TPO) receptor agonist, was evaluated as a treatment to raise platelet counts (PCs) in patients with thrombocytopenia and CLD undergoing invasive procedures. L-PLUS 2 was a global, phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Adults with CLD and baseline PCs < 50 × 109 /L were randomized to receive once-daily lusutrombopag 3 mg or placebo ≤ 7 days before an invasive procedure scheduled 2-7 days after the last dose. The primary endpoint was avoidance of preprocedure platelet transfusion and avoidance of rescue therapy for bleeding. A key secondary endpoint was number of days PCs were ≥ 50 × 109 /L throughout the study. Safety analysis was performed on patients who received at least one dose of study drug. This study occurred between June 15, 2015, and April 19, 2017, with a total of 215 randomized patients (lusutrombopag, 108; placebo, 107); 64.8% (70/108) of patients in the lusutrombopag group versus 29.0% (31/107) in the placebo group met the primary endpoint (P < 0.0001; difference of proportion 95% confidence interval [CI], 36.7 [24.9, 48.5]). The median duration of PCs ≥ 50 × 109 /L was 19.2 days with lusutrombopag (without platelet transfusion) compared with 0.0 in the placebo group (with platelet transfusion) (P = 0.0001). Most adverse events were mild or moderate in severity, and rates were similar in the lusutrombopag and placebo groups (47.7% and 48.6%, respectively). Conclusion: Lusutrombopag was superior to placebo for reducing the need for platelet transfusions and achieved durable PC response in patients with thrombocytopenia and CLD undergoing invasive procedures, with a safety profile similar to placebo.

Compassionate Use of Cefiderocol as Adjunctive Treatment of Native Aortic Valve Endocarditis Due to Extremely Drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Serious infections such as endocarditis due to extremely drug-resistance gram-negative bacteria are an increasing challenge. Here, we present successful adjunctive use of cefiderocol for a patient with persistently bacteremic healthcare-associated native aortic valve endocarditis due to an extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-positive Pseudomonas aeruginosa susceptible in vitro only to colistin, following failure of conventional therapeutic options.

Lusutrombopag Reduces Need for Platelet Transfusion in Patients With Thrombocytopenia Undergoing Invasive Procedures.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Platelet transfusion is used to prevent hemorrhagic events in patients with thrombocytopenia undergoing invasive procedures, but there are many disadvantages. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of lusutrombopag in patients with chronic liver disease and thrombocytopenia undergoing invasive procedures. METHODS: We performed a double-blind, parallel-group, phase 3 study of 96 patients with chronic liver disease and thrombocytopenia (platelet counts below 50,000/µL) undergoing invasive procedures from October 2013 to May 2014 at 81 centers in Japan. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to groups given once-daily lusutrombopag (3 mg) or placebo for up to 7 days. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients not requiring platelet transfusion before the invasive procedure. The protocol-defined response (platelet count 50,000/µL or more with an increase of 20,000/µL or more from baseline) and the time course of the change in platelet count were also evaluated. Adverse events were recorded. RESULTS: The proportions of patients who did not require preoperative platelet transfusion were 79.2% (38/48) in the lusutrombopag group and 12.5% (6/48) in the placebo group (P < .0001). A response was observed in 77.1% (37/48) of patients in the lusutrombopag group and 6.3% (3/48) of patients in the placebo group (P < .0001). In the lusutrombopag group without platelet transfusion, the median platelet count was 50,000/µL or more after 5 days; the mean time to reach the maximum platelet count was 13.4 days; and the number of days (adjusted mean) during which the platelet count was 50,000/µL or more was 21.09 days. Adverse drug reactions were reported in 8.3% of patients in the lusutrombopag group and 2.1% of patients in the placebo group. Two patients (1 per group) had a thrombotic event, but neither were associated with an excessive increase in platelet count (200,000/µL or more). CONCLUSION: In a placebo-controlled trial, lusutrombopag was effective in achieving and maintaining the target platelet count in patients with chronic liver disease and thrombocytopenia undergoing invasive procedures. No significant safety concerns were raised. Japanese clinical trial registration no: JapicCTI-132323.

Cefiderocol versus imipenem-cilastatin for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections caused by Gram-negative uropathogens: a phase 2, randomised, double-blind, non-inferiority trial.

BACKGROUND: Carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria represent the highest priority for addressing global antibiotic resistance. Cefiderocol (S-649266), a new siderophore cephalosporin, has broad activity against Enterobacteriaceae and non-fermenting bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii, including carbapenem-resistant strains. We assessed the efficacy and safety of cefiderocol versus imipenem-cilastatin for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infection in patients at risk of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections. METHODS: We did a phase 2, multicentre, double-blind, parallel-group non-inferiority trial at 67 hospitals in 15 countries. Adults (≥18 years) admitted to hospital with a clinical diagnosis of complicated urinary tract infection with or without pyelonephritis or those with acute uncomplicated pyelonephritis were randomly assigned (2:1) by an interactive web or voice response system to receive 1 h intravenous infusions of cefiderocol (2 g) or imipenem-cilastatin (1 g each) three times daily, every 8 h for 7-14 days. Patients were excluded if they had a baseline urine culture with more than two uropathogens, a fungal urinary tract infection, or pathogens known to be carbapenem resistant. The primary endpoint was the composite of clinical and microbiological outcomes at test of cure (ie, 7 days after treatment cessation), which was used to establish non-inferiority (15% and 20% margins) of cefiderocol versus imipenem-cilastatin. The primary efficacy analysis was done on a modified intention-to-treat population, which included all randomly assigned individuals who received at least one dose of study drug and had a qualifying Gram-negative uropathogen (≥1 × 105 colony-forming units [CFU]/mL). Safety was assessed in all randomly assigned individuals who received at least one dose of study drug, according to the treatment they received. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02321800. FINDINGS: Between Feb 5, 2015, and Aug 16, 2016, 452 patients were randomly assigned to cefiderocol (n=303) or imipenem-cilastatin (n=149), of whom 448 patients (n=300 in the cefiderocol group; n=148 in the imipenem-cilastatin group) received treatment. 371 patients (n=252 patients in the cefiderocol group; n=119 patients in the imipenem-cilastatin group) had qualifying Gram-negative uropathogen (≥1 × 105 CFU/mL) and were included in the primary efficacy analysis. At test of cure, the primary efficacy endpoint was achieved by 183 (73%) of 252 patients in the cefiderocol group and 65 (55%) of 119 patients in the imipenem-cilastatin group, with an adjusted treatment difference of 18·58% (95% CI 8·23-28·92; p=0·0004), establishing the non-inferiority of cefiderocol. Cefiderocol was well tolerated. Adverse events occurred in 122 (41%) of 300 patients in the cefiderocol group and 76 (51%) of 148 patients in the imipenem-cilastatin group, with gastrointestinal disorders (ie, diarrhoea, constipation, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain) the most common adverse events for both treatment groups (35 [12%] patients in the cefiderocol group and 27 [18%] patients in the imipenem-cilastatin group). INTERPRETATION: Intravenous infusion of cefiderocol (2 g) three times daily was non-inferior compared with imipenem-cilastatin (1 g each) for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infection in people with multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections. The results of this study will provide the basis for submission of a New Drug Application to the US Food and Drug Administration. Clinical trials of hospital-acquired pneumonia and carbapenem-resistant infections are ongoing. FUNDING: Shionogi & Co Ltd, Shionogi Inc.

Prevalence of Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Infections in the United States Predominated by Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

BACKGROUND: Carbapenem-resistant (CR) Gram-negative pathogens are recognized as a major health concern. This study examined the prevalence of infections due to 4 CR Gram-negative species (Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli) in the United States and assessed their impact on hospital stays and mortality. METHODS: Hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed infection due to any of the 4 Gram-negative pathogens were identified from the Premier Healthcare Database. Proportions of CR were calculated by pathogen and infection site (blood, respiratory, urinary, or other) for the United States as whole and by census regions. Crude and adjusted odds ratios for in-hospital mortality were produced using logistic regression. RESULTS: From 2009 to 2013, 13 262 (4.5%) of 292 742 infections due to these 4 Gram-negative pathogens were CR. Of these CR infections, 82.3% were caused by A. baumannii (22%) or P. aeruginosa (60.3%), while 17.7% were caused by K. pneumoniae or E. coli. CR patients had longer hospital stays than carbapenem-susceptible (CS) patients in all pathogen-infection site cohorts, except in the A. baumannii-respiratory cohort. The crude all cause in-hospital mortality was greater for most pathogen-infection site cohorts of the CR group compared with the CS group, especially for A. baumannii infection in the blood (crude odds ratio [OR], 3.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.69-5.70). This difference for the A. baumannii-blood cohort remained after adjusting for the relevant covariates (adjusted OR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.43-4.22). CONCLUSION: The majority of CR infections and disease burden in the United States was caused by nonfermenters A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa. Patients with CR infections had longer hospital stays and higher crude in-hospital mortality.

[Efficacy and safety of potassium clavulanate/amoxicillin (CLAVAMOX) dry syrup in children with otitis media].

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of CLAVAMOX dry syrup (potassium clavulanate/amoxicillin) in children with otitis media, we conducted a postmarketing surveillance from February to September 2006. The analysis was made on the basis of 470 survey sheets collected from 127 medical institutions, of which we investigated 455 cases for safety, and 433 cases for efficacy. The efficacy was 95.2% in the 433 subjects eligible for the efficacy analysis. The clinical improvement rates for major symptoms (otalgia, otorrhea, flare reaction of drum membrane and fever) were 95% or more. The efficacies for the three major offending bacteria of otitis media (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis) were between 94.6% and 100%. The efficacies for penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP) and penicillin intermediate resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PISP) were 95% or more. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were reported in 106 (23.3%) of the 455 subjects eligible for safety analysis. The major ADRs were diarrhea, of which incident was 22.6% (103 of 455). These ADRs were observed at a higher rate in younger age patients. Most of the diarrhea cases were non-serious, reversible on discontinuation or continuation of the drug. No clinically important serious diarrhea cases such as pseudomembranous colitis or dehydration were observed. Our surveillance results demonstrated that CLAVAMOX dry syrup had excellent efficacy and clinically manageable safety in children with otitis media. These findings indicated that this medicine was clinically-useful in children with otitis media.