Aim: Infections by Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing K. pneumoniae represent a major challenge because of limited treatment strategies. New β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor associations may help to deal with this challenge. The aim of this study is to evaluate the in vitro susceptibility of KPC-producing K. pneumoniae for meropenem/vaborbactam in comparison with ceftazidime/avibactam against. Materials and methods: Twenty-eight strains isolated from blood cultures were evaluated. Testing for susceptibility to meropenem/vaborbactam and ceftazidime/avibactam was performed by E-test gradient strip. Results: All the clinical isolates were susceptible to meropenem/vaborbactam, while one strain was resistant to ceftazidime/avibactam with a MIC of 32 μg/ml. The median MIC of ceftazidime/avibactam evaluated after standardization was higher compared with that of meropenem/vaborbactam. Conclusion: Meropenem/vaborbactam could be an important turning point in the treatment of KPC-producing K. pneumoniae infections, especially considering the emergence of ceftazidime/avibactam resistance.
Keywords: KPC-producing K. pneumoniae; antibiotic resistance; ceftazidime/avibactam; drugs; meropenem/vaborbactam.
Lay abstract Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae is responsible, in critically ill patients, for nosocomial infections that are difficult to treat due to limited therapeutic options. Today, new antibiotics are available for treating these infections. The aim of this study is to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of meropenem/vaborbactam versus ceftazidime/avibactam. The results demonstrate that meropenem/vaborbactam could be an important turning point in the treatment of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae infections, considering the emergence of ceftazidime/avibactam resistance.