Ceftazidime-avibactam is a novel ␤-lactam/␤-lactamase inhibitor with activity against carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) that produce Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC). We report the first cases of ceftazidimeavibactam resistance to develop during treatment of CRE infections and identify resistance mechanisms. Ceftazidime-avibactam-resistant K. pneumoniae emerged in three patients after ceftazidime-avibactam treatment for 10 to 19 days. Wholegenome sequencing (WGS) of longitudinal ceftazidime-avibactam-susceptible and -resistant K. pneumoniae isolates was used to identify potential resistance mechanisms. WGS identified mutations in plasmid-borne bla KPC-3 , which were not present in baseline isolates. bla KPC-3 mutations emerged independently in isolates of a novel sequence type 258 sublineage and resulted in variant KPC-3 enzymes. The mutations were validated as resistance determinants by measuring MICs of ceftazidime-avibactam and other agents following targeted gene disruption in K. pneumoniae, plasmid transfer, and bla KPC cloning into competent Escherichia coli. In rank order, the impact of KPC-3 variants on ceftazidime-avibactam MICs was as follows: D179Y/T243M double substitution Ͼ D179Y Ͼ V240G. Remarkably, mutations reduced meropenem MICs Ն4-fold from baseline, restoring susceptibility in K. pneumoniae from two patients. Cefepime and ceftriaxone MICs were also reduced Ն4-fold against D179Y/T243M and D179Y variant isolates, but susceptibility was not restored. Reverse transcription-PCR revealed that expression of bla KPC-3 encoding D179Y/T243M and D179Y variants was diminished compared to bla KPC-3 expression in baseline isolates. In conclusion, the development of resistance-conferring bla KPC-3 mutations in K. pneumoniae within 10 to 19 days of ceftazidime-avibactam exposure is troubling, but clinical impact may be ameliorated if carbapenem susceptibility is restored in certain isolates.

Thirty-seven carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)-infected patients were treated with ceftazidime-avibactam. Clinical success and survival rates at 30 days were 59% (22/37) and 76% (28/37), respectively. In 23% (5/22) of clinical successes, CRE infections recurred within 90 days. Microbiologic failure rate was 27% (10/37). Ceftazidime-avibactam resistance was detected in 30% (3/10) of microbiologic failures.Keywords. ceftazidime-avibactam resistance; carbapenemresistant Enterobacteriaceae; Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase.Ceftazidime-avibactam is a novel β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combination that was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of complicated intraabdominal and complicated urinary tract infections [1]. The agent demonstrates in vitro activity against carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) that produce Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC), but not metallo-β-lactamases such as New Delhi MBL (NDM), Verona integron-encoded MBL (VIM), or imipenemase (IMP) [2]. Ceftazidime-avibactam may offer a significant advance over previously developed antimicrobials with in vitro activity against CRE, such as colistin, gentamicin, and tigecycline, which are limited by concerns over efficacy and/or toxicity. Our objective in this study was to describe our initial clinical experience with ceftazidimeavibactam against CRE infections. METHODSWe conducted a retrospective study of patients with CRE infection who were treated with ceftazidime-avibactam at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center between April 2015 and February 2016. CRE was defined by current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria as resistance to any carbapenem [3]. A standard dosage of 2.5 g intravenously (IV) every 8 hours was used, with adjustments for renal impairment made according to manufacturer recommendations [1]. Types of CRE infection were classified according to National Healthcare Safety Network criteria [4]. Clinical success was defined as survival and absence of recurrence at 30 days following the onset of infection, resolution of signs and symptoms of infection, and sterilization of site-specific cultures within 7 days of treatment initiation. Microbiologic failure was defined as isolation of CRE following ≥7 days of ceftazidime-avibactam treatment. Recurrences within 90 days of onset were defined by microbiologic failure and concomitant signs of infection. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using reference Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute broth microdilution methods; avibactam was tested at a fixed concentration of 4 µg/mL [2]. Isolates were tested for the presence of β-lactamases as described previously [5,6]. Comparisons between groups were made using Fisher exact test (categorical variables) and Mann-Whitney U (continuous variables). Significance was defined as P ≤ .05 (2-tailed). RESULTSThirty-seven consecutive patients treated for 3 days or longer with ceftazidime-avibactam were evaluated. Median age was 64 years (range, 26-...

There are no data comparing outcomes of patients treated with ceftazidime-avibactam versus comparators for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae infections. At our center, ceftazidime-avibactam treatment of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia was associated with higher rates of clinical success (P ϭ 0.006) and survival (P ϭ 0.01) than other regimens. Across treatment groups, there were no differences in underlying diseases, severity of illness, source of bacteremia, or strain characteristics (97% produced K. pneumoniae carbapenemase). Aminoglycoside-and colistin-containing regimens were associated with increased rates of nephrotoxicity (P ϭ 0.002).

Background. Data on the use of ceftolozane-tazobactam and emergence of ceftolozane-tazobactam resistance during multidrug resistant (MDR)-Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections are limited.Methods. We performed a retrospective study of 21 patients treated with ceftolozane-tazobactam for MDR-P. aeruginosa infections. Whole genome sequencing and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were performed on longitudinal isolates.Results. Median age was 58 years; 9 patients (43%) were transplant recipients. Median simplified acute physiology score-II (SAPS-II) was 26. Eighteen (86%) patients were treated for respiratory tract infections; others were treated for bloodstream, complicated intraabdominal infections, or complicated urinary tract infections. Ceftolozane-tazobactam was discontinued in 1 patient (rash). Thirty-day all-cause and attributable mortality rates were 10% (2/21) and 5% (1/21), respectively; corresponding 90-day mortality rates were 48% (10/21) and 19% (4/21). The ceftolozane-tazobactam failure rate was 29% (6/21). SAPS-II score was the sole predictor of failure. Ceftolozane-tazobactam resistance emerged in 3 (14%) patients. Resistance was associated with de novo mutations, rather than acquisition of resistant nosocomial isolates. ampC overexpression and mutations were identified as potential resistance determinants.Conclusions. In this small study, ceftolozane-tazobactam was successful in treating 71% of patients with MDR-P. aeruginosa infections, most of whom had pneumonia. The emergence of ceftolozane-tazobactam resistance in 3 patients is worrisome and may be mediated in part by AmpC-related mechanisms. More research on treatment responses and resistance during various types of MDR-P. aeruginosa infections is needed to define ceftolozane-tazobactam's place in the armamentarium.

Ceftazidime-avibactam was used to treat 77 patients with carbapenem-resistant (CRE) infections at our center. Thirty- and 90-day survival rates were 81% and 69%, respectively; these rates were higher than those predicted by SAPS II and SOFA scores at the onset of infection. Clinical success was achieved for 55% of patients but differed by the site of infection. Success rates were lowest for pneumonia (36%) and higher for bacteremia (75%) and urinary tract infections (88%). By multivariate analysis, pneumonia ( = 0.045) and receipt of renal replacement therapy (RRT) ( = 0.046) were associated with clinical failure. Microbiologic failures occurred in 32% of patients and occurred more commonly among patients infected with KPC-3-producing CRE than among those infected with KPC-2-producing CRE ( = 0.002). Pneumonia was an independent predictor of microbiologic failure ( = 0.007). Ceftazidime-avibactam resistance emerged in 10% of patients, including 14% of those infected with and 32% of those with microbiologic failure. RRT was an independent predictor of the development of resistance ( = 0.009). Resistance was identified exclusively among bacteria harboring variant KPC-3 enzymes. Upon phylogenetic analysis of whole-genome sequences, resistant isolates from 87.5% (7/8) of patients clustered within a previously defined sequence type 258 (ST258) clade II sublineage; resistant isolates from one patient clustered independently from other ST258 clade II isolates. In conclusion, our report offers new insights into the utility and limitations of ceftazidime-avibactam across CRE infection types. Immediate priorities are to identify ceftazidime-avibactam dosing and therapeutic regimens that improve on the poor outcomes among patients with pneumonia and those receiving RRT.