This report describes the treatment of KPC-3 producing multidrug-resistant (MDR) K. pneumoniae with CAZ-AVI in a patient who developed post-neurosurgical meningitis and bacteremia. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of CSF and blood samples demonstrated CAZ-AVI concentration levels 20-fold greater than the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in the first 60 minutes post-infusion, providing evidence for its utility in treating KPC-KP CNS infections.

Background and Purpose-Report on the status of an on-going National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)-supported clinical trial of management of unbled brain arteriovenous malformations. Summary of Review-Begun in April 2007 with 3 centers, the trial has grown to 65 centers, and has randomized 124 patients through mid-June 2010 en route to the planned 400. The current literature continues to support the rationale for the trial. Conclusions-ARUBA is steadily approaching its monthly randomization goals and has already reached the number needed to test the maximum published interventional complication rates against the minimum hemorrhage rates for natural history. (Stroke. 2010;41:e537-e540.)

Background Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a persistent and difficult-to-treat pathogen in many patients, especially those with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Herein, we describe a longitudinal analysis of a series of multidrug resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa isolates recovered in a 17-month period, from a young female CF patient who underwent double lung transplantation. Our goal was to understand the genetic basis of the observed resistance phenotypes, establish the genomic population diversity, and define the nature of sequence evolution over time. Methods Twenty-two sequential P. aeruginosa isolates were obtained within a 17-month period, before and after a double-lung transplant. At the end of the study period, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, whole genome sequencing (WGS), phylogenetic analyses and RNAseq were performed in order to understand the genetic basis of the observed resistance phenotypes, establish the genomic population diversity, and define the nature of sequence changes over time. Results The majority of isolates were resistant to almost all tested antibiotics. A phylogenetic reconstruction revealed 3 major clades representing a genotypically and phenotypically heterogeneous population. The pattern of mutation accumulation and variation of gene expression suggested that a group of closely related strains was present in the patient prior to transplantation and continued to change throughout the course of treatment. A trend toward accumulation of mutations over time was observed. Different mutations in the DNA mismatch repair gene mutL consistent with a hypermutator phenotype were observed in two clades. RNAseq performed on 12 representative isolates revealed substantial differences in the expression of genes associated with antibiotic resistance and virulence traits. Conclusions The overwhelming current practice in the clinical laboratories setting relies on obtaining a pure culture and reporting the antibiogram from a few isolated colonies to inform therapy decisions. Our analyses revealed significant underlying genomic heterogeneity and unpredictable evolutionary patterns that were independent of prior antibiotic treatment, highlighting the need for comprehensive sampling and population-level analysis when gathering microbiological data in the context of CF P. aeruginosa chronic infection. Our findings challenge the applicability of antimicrobial stewardship programs based on single-isolate resistance profiles for the selection of antibiotic regimens in chronic infections such as CF.

Ceftazidime/Avibactam (CAZ/AVI) is a β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combination with activity against type A and C β-lactamases. Resistance emergence has been seen with multiple mechanisms accounting for the resistance. We performed four experiments in the dynamic Hollow Fiber Infection Model, delineating the linkage between drug exposure and both rate of bacterial kill and resistance emergence by all mechanisms. The P. aeruginosa isolate had an MIC of 1.0 mg/L (CAZ)/4 mg/L (AVI). We demonstrated that Time>4.0 mg/L AVI was linked to rate of bacterial kill. Linkage to resistance emergence/suppression was more complex. In one experiment where CAZ/AVI administration was intermittent/continuous and where AVI was given in unitary steps from 1–8 mg/L, AVI up to 3 mg/L allowed resistance emergence, whereas higher values did not. The threshold value was 3.72 mg/L as a continuous infusion to counterselect resistance (AUC of 89.3 mg*h/L AVI). The mechanism was by a 7 amino acid deletion in the Ω-loop region of the PDC β-lactamase. Further experiments, where CAZ/AVI were both administered intermittently with regimens above and below the AUC of 89.3 mg*hr/L resulted in resistance in the lower exposure groups. Deletion mutants were not identified. Finally, an experiment where paired exposures both as continuous and intermittent infusions were performed, the lower value of 25 mg*hr/L by both profiles allowed selection of deletion mutants. Of the five instances where these mutants were recovered, 4/5 were by the continuous infusion profile. Both continuous infusion administration and low avibactam AUC exposures have a role in selection of this mutation.