Maria Leone

Dr. Maria Leone

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
18 December 2025 in Pathogens
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
FHFabian Herrera
Fabian Herrera
DTDiego Roberto Torres
Diego Roberto Torres
MLMaria Leone
Maria Leone
MCMaximiliano Gabriel Castro
Maximiliano Gabriel Castro
JCJorge López Camelo
Jorge López Camelo
PBPABLO EDUARDO BONVEHI
PABLO EDUARDO BONVEHI
Ceftazidime-avibactam (CA) and CA plus aztreonam (ATM) are the preferred treatment options for KPC and MBL carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales infections (CPEis). All episodes of monomicrobial CPEis in immunosuppressed patients (IPs) admitted from May 2019 to November 2024, who received definitive antibiotic therapy (AT) with CA or CA + ATM for at least 72 h, were prospectively included. Bacteremic episodes (BEs) and non-bacteremic episodes (NBEs) were compared. Logistic regressions adjusted by propensity score were used to identify variables associated with 30-day overall mortality. In total, 82 CPEis were included (38 NBEs and 44 BEs). BEs more frequently occurred in hematological malignancies (52.3% vs. 15.8%, p = 0.0006), while NBEs were more commonly observed in solid organ transplantation (73.7% vs. 34.1%, p = 0.001). K. pneumoniae was the main isolated microorganism; KPC-CPE was the most common resistance mechanism in both groups, followed by MBL-CPE. The 7-day clinical response, 30-day overall and infection-related mortality between NBEs and BEs were 92.1% vs. 88.6%, p = 0.59, 10.5% vs. 27.3%, p = 0.09, and 2.6% vs. 13.6%, p = 0.11. Septic shock, OR 6.5, 95% CI, 1.58–26.72 (p = 0.01), and refractory malignancy, OR 5.6, 95% CI, 1.03–30.14 (p = 0.046), were associated with 30-day mortality, whereas BEs were not, OR 1.5, 95% CI, 0.36–6.2 (p = 0.56). CPEis in both NBE and BE IPs who received definitive AT with CA or CA + ATM correlated with a high rate of 7-day clinical response and low 30-day infection-related mortality. Underlying malignancy and disease severity were associated with 30-day overall mortality. Regional knowledge of bacterial antibiotic resistance enables the implementation of individualized AT to improve patient survival.