Ceftazidime-avibactam may be a reasonable alternative to colistin in the treatment of K. pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing CRE infections. These findings require confirmation in a randomized controlled trial.

No abstract

m Carbapenem resistance in Gram-negative bacteria is on the rise in the United States. A regional network was established to study microbiological and genetic determinants of clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with carbapenem-resistant (CR) Klebsiella pneumoniae in a prospective, multicenter, observational study. To this end, predefined clinical characteristics and outcomes were recorded and K. pneumoniae isolates were analyzed for strain typing and resistance mechanism determination. In a 14-month period, 251 patients were included. While most of the patients were admitted from long-term care settings, 28% of them were admitted from home. Hospitalizations were prolonged and complicated. Nonsusceptibility to colistin and tigecycline occurred in isolates from 7 and 45% of the patients, respectively. Most of the CR K. pneumoniae isolates belonged to repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR (rep-PCR) types A and B (both sequence type 258) and carried either bla KPC-2 (48%) or bla KPC-3 (51%). One isolate tested positive for bla NDM-1 , a sentinel discovery in this region. Important differences between strain types were noted; rep-PCR type B strains were associated with bla KPC-3 (odds ratio [OR], 294; 95% confidence interval [CI], 58 to 2,552; P < 0.001), gentamicin nonsusceptibility (OR, 24; 95% CI, 8.39 to 79.38; P < 0.001), amikacin susceptibility (OR, 11.0; 95% CI, 3.21 to 42.42; P < 0.001), tigecycline nonsusceptibility (OR, 5.34; 95% CI, 1.30 to 36.41; P ‫؍‬ 0.018), a shorter length of stay (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.95 to 1.00; P ‫؍‬ 0.043), and admission from a skilled-nursing facility (OR, 3.09; 95% CI, 1.26 to 8.08; P ‫؍‬ 0.013). Our analysis shows that (i) CR K. pneumoniae is seen primarily in the elderly long-term care population and that (ii) regional monitoring of CR K. pneumoniae reveals insights into molecular characteristics. This work highlights the crucial role of ongoing surveillance of carbapenem resistance determinants.

In this cohort, 13% of patients with CRKp presented with ColR CRKp. The apparent polyclonal nature of the isolates suggests de novo emergence of ColR in this cohort as the primary factor driving ColR. Importantly, mortality was increased in patients with ColR isolates.

We report the first case of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease treated with AIC246, a novel anti-CMV compound which targets the viral terminase complex and remains active against virus resistant to DNA polymerase inhibitors. A lung transplant recipient developed refractory multidrug-resistant CMV disease involving the lungs, gastrointestinal tract and retina. His disease progressed despite treatment with all DNA polymerase inhibitors; multiple agents reported to have activity against CMV in case series, and reduction in his immunosuppressive medications. AIC246 which is in clinical development was obtained for emergency use, and combined with additional reduction in immunosuppression resulted in rapid clinical, virological and radiological resolution of disease. The patient has remained free of CMV disease or viremia off treatment for greater than 3 months. In summary AIC246, while still in development, may be a promising alternative to current therapies.