In VitroAntibacterial Activity of the Ceftazidime-Avibactam Combination against Enterobacteriaceae, Including Strains with Well-Characterized β-Lactamases

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe novel β-lactamase inhibitor avibactam is a potent inhibitor of class A, class C, and some class D enzymes. Thein vitroantibacterial activity of the ceftazidime-avibactam combination was determined for a collection ofEnterobacteriaceaeclinical isolates; this collection was enriched for resistant strains, including strains with characterized serine β-lactamases. The inhibitor was added either at fixed weight ratios to ceftazidime or at fixed concentrations, with the latter type of combination consistently resulting in greater potentiation of antibacterial activity. In the presence of 4 μg/ml of avibactam, the ceftazidime MIC50and MIC90(0.25 and 2 μg/ml, respectively) were both below the CLSI breakpoint for ceftazidime. Further comparisons with reference antimicrobial agents were performed using this fixed inhibitor concentration. Against most ceftazidime-susceptible and -nonsusceptible isolates, the addition of avibactam resulted in a significant increase in ceftazidime activity, with MICs generally reduced 256-fold for extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producers, 8- to 32-fold for CTX-M producers, and >128-fold for KPC producers. Overall, MICs of a ceftazidime-avibactam combination were significantly lower than those of the comparators piperacillin-tazobactam, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, and cefepime and similar or superior to those of imipenem.