Acinetobacter baumannii is currently classified as one of six pathogens that contribute to increased patient mortality. Thus, exploratory studies navigating alternative treatment strategies are of supreme interest. Herein, we completed minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) testing, and time-kill analyses (TKA) on 50 carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacterbaumannii isolates including 28 colistin-resistant isolates. Upon testing of MEM or TGC in the presence of sub-inhibitory COL against the 50 isolates, there was a median 2-fold reduction in MEM and TGC MICs. In the TKAs, the COL+MEM combination was synergistic in 45 (90%) isolates and bactericidal in 43 (86%) isolates at 24 hours, whereas the COL+TGC combination TKAs demonstrated synergy in 32 (64%) isolates and bactericidal activity was shown in 28 (56%) isolates. Additionally, sulbactam (SUL) and TGC were added to the COL+MEM dual therapy regimen to assess the possible utility of a triple therapy regimen against five non-responsive isolates. The COL+MEM+SUL and COL+MEM+TGC regimens effectively restored synergy in (5/5) 100% of the isolates. The results of this study demonstrate the potential utility of COL combinations in the treatment of carbapenem-resistant isolates.

Background: Increasing application of vancomycin due to the high prevalence of MRSA infections has led to the emergence of vancomycin intermediate-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) and heterogeneous VISA (hVISA). Consequently, the need for alternative therapies that target MRSA has become evident. Objectives: To evaluate the synergy between (lipo)glycopeptides (LGP/GPs) (vancomycin, teicoplanin, telavancin, dalbavancin and oritavancin) and beta-lactams (ceftaroline, cefepime, cefazolin and oxacillin) against MRSA, hVISA, VISA and daptomycin non-susceptible (DNS) phenotypes. Methods: Twenty randomly selected clinical MRSA strains (i.e. 5 MRSA, 5 hVISA, 5 VISA and 5 DNS) were assessed versus LGP/GPs alone and LGP/GPs in combination with beta-lactams for MICs. Although verification of antibiotic potency against bacterial strains is assessed by the microbroth dilution (MBD) MIC method recommended by the CLSI, some antibiotics need modified assay conditions in order to demonstrate their optimal activity. Results: Addition of beta-lactams reduced MIC values of LGP/GPs against all strains (up to 160-fold reduction). In general, LGPs (dalbavancin, oritavancin and telavancin) were more active (significant differences in MIC values, up to 8-fold) compared with vancomycin and teicoplanin. The majority of these combinations were bactericidal and superior to any single agent. Conclusions: This report has examined the susceptibility patterns of LGP/GPs and their combination with beta-lactams. Of interest, the impact of susceptibility tests (in terms of MIC plates and their surface area) on the synergistic activity in 24h time-kill experiments was apparent for LGPs. Further clinical research is required to investigate synergy with LGP/GPs and beta-lactams against these Staphylococcus strains.

The treatment of XDR Gram-negative bacilli poses a significant clinical challenge with limited treatment options. Colistin-resistant XRD Gram-negative bacteria are becoming more commonplace in the clinical setting. Combination therapy is resorted to for treatment of such strains. The objective of this in-vitro study was to evaluate the synergistic effect of the combination with COL and MEM against Colistin-resistant XDR Gram-negative bacilli. In this study, a total of 30 Colistin-resistant XDR Gram-negative clinical isolates were evaluated, including five isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, twenty-four isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii and one isolate of Klebsiella pneumonia. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined with COL and MEM for each strain by broth microdilution. COL and MEM MICs were measured in the presence of 0.25- to 0.5- × the MIC of the other antibiotic to determine the ability to lower MIC values. Time-kill assays were performed with each agent alone and in combination to evaluate the potential for synergistic interactions. Additive and synergistic effects were defined as 1- to 2-log₁₀ and ≥ 2-log₁₀ reductions in CFU/mL from the most active single agent at 24 hours, respectively. All isolates were resistant to COL (MIC90 32 mg/L), whereas all bacteria with except one A. baumannii, were resistant to MEM (MIC90 >64 mg/L). Zero- to greater than nine-fold decrease in MEM MICs were observed in combination with COL at 0.25- to 0.5 × MIC. COL MICs decreased by 0 to >8-fold when combined with MEM. MEM plus COL demonstrated synergistic activity against 70% strains tested and additive in 3% of the tested strains at 24 h in time-kill. The combination was indifferent in 26% of the tested strains. These data indicate that the addition of MEM to COL therapy in colistin resistant XDR Gram-negative bacteria demonstrate synergistic or additive effects against a majority of XDR Gram-negative bacteria. The combination might be a promising therapeutic option for treatment of these problem pathogens. M. J. Rybak, Allergan: Consultant, Grant Investigator and Speaker’s Bureau, Research grant and Research support. Achaogen: Consultant, Grant Investigator and Speaker’s Bureau, Consulting fee, Research grant and Research support. Bayer: Consultant, Grant Investigator and Speaker’s Bureau, Consulting fee, Research grant and Research support. Melinta: Consultant, Grant Investigator and Speaker’s Bureau, Consulting fee, Research grant and Research support. Merck: Consultant, Grant Investigator and Speaker’s Bureau, Consulting fee, Research grant and Research support. Theravance: Consultant, Grant Investigator and Speaker’s Bureau, Consulting fee, Research grant and Research support. Sunovian: Consultant, Grant Investigator and Speaker’s Bureau, Consulting fee, Research grant and Research support. Zavante: Consultant, Grant Investigator and Speaker’s Bureau, Consulting fee, Research grant and Research support. NIAID: Consultant, Grant Investigator and Speaker’s Bureau, Consulting fee, Research grant and Research support.

Acinetobacter baumannii possess inherent and acquired antibiotic resistance mechanisms that have rendered most antibiotics, including carbapenems, inactive. Colistin (COL) has risen as salvage therapy against these organisms due to its retained activity against A. baumannii. However, COL monotherapy is often met with suboptimal outcomes. Recently, combination therapy with COL and meropenem (MEM) or tigecycline (TGC) has been shown to be effective in eradicating multi-drug-resistant A. baumannii infections. The objective of this study was to further evaluate the efficacy of COL in combination with MEM or TGC against 50 multi-drug-resistant A. baumannii strains. Fifty carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii strains were evaluated using combination minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) testing and time-kill analysis (TKA). Single-drug MIC testing was performed for each strain by broth microdilution. Combination MIC testing was performed for COL+MEM and COL+TGC. Each strain was evaluated via 24-hour TKA to assess the synergistic capabilities of COL+MEM, and COL+TGC. Synergy was defined as a ≥ 2-log reduction CFU/mL in either combination from the most active single agent, while bactericidal activity was defined as a ≥ 3-log reduction CFU/mL of either combination from the initial inoculum. All 50 strains were resistant to MEM and TGC with MICs ≥ 64 µg/mL and ≥ 4 µg/mL respectively; while 3 strains were resistant to COL, MICs ≥ 2 µg/mL. MEM and TGC MIC values were reduced as much as 128-fold (median 2-fold) and 32-fold (median 2-fold),, respectively, in the presence of subinhibitory COL. COL MIC values were reduced as much as 512-fold (median 4-fold) from baseline in the presence of subinhibitory MEM, and as high as 16-fold (median 2-fold) in the presence of TGC. In TKAs, COL+MEM was synergistic in 45/50 (90%) strains and bactericidal against 43/50 (86%) strains. COL+TGC TKAs revealed synergy in 32/50 (64%) strains, and bactericidal activity against 28/50 (56%) strains. The combinations of COL+MEM and COL+TGC demonstrate promise in combating highly resistant A. baumannii. Further research is mandated to explore other combinations that are capable of eradicating multi-drug-resistant A. baumannii. All authors: No reported disclosures.