Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) are found in numerous Enterobacteriaceae, mainly in Klebsiella pneumoniae. We investigated the pharmacodynamics of two new extended-spectrum cephalosporins, cefepime and cefpirome, alone and combined with either amikacin or gentamicin or ciprofloxacin by means of time-kill curves against ESBL-producing, amino-glycoside-resistant K. pneumoniae. When used alone, cefepime (8 and 16 mg/l) resulted in a 2 and 3 log decrease at 6 h, respectively, but at 24 h regrowth occurred. The combination of cefepime (8 mg/l) with amikacin (4 mg/l) resulted in a 4 log decrease at 6 h, but there were no surviving bacteria at 6 h when combined with amikacin (8 mg/l). The combination of cefepime (16 mg/l) with gentamicin (4 mg/l) resulted in a 4 log decrease in 24 h. The antimicrobial combiantion of cefepime (32 mg/l) with ciprofloxacin (2 mg/l) resulted in a 4 log decrease in 24 h. Cefpirome (8 mg/l) induced a 2 log decrease at 4 h; 32 mg/l cefpirome resulted in a 3 log decrease followed by regrowth at 24 h. The regrowth observed in the late phase with cefpirome alone disappeared when combined with aminoglycoside. When cefpirome (32 mg/l) was used in combination with ciprofloxacin (1 mg/l), it resulted in a 4 log decrease in 24 h.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the pharmacodynamic disposition of two recently developed beta-lactam antibiotics, meropenem and cefpirome, in the Yucatan micropig model, and to compare the bactericidal activity of these drugs against bacteria in this in vitro/ex vivo micropig model after administration by both intermittent injection and continuous infusion. METHODS: Cefpirome (1 g) was given to the micropig over a 12-h period by direct intravenous injection and 6-h continuous infusion (500 mg). Meropenem (250 mg) was administered either by 30-min intravenous and 8-h continuous infusion. The two drugs were assayed by HPLC. The pharmacodynamics of these drugs were evaluated by means of (1) serum killing curve against Klebsiella pneumoniae producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamase, stably derepressed Enterobacter cloacae and methicillin-susceptible penicillinase-producing Staphylococcus aureus, and (2) calculations of index of surviving bacteria (ISB). RESULTS: The bactericidal activity of meropenem against K. pneumoniae and E. cloacae in this in vitro/ex vivo model was excellent, with a 4 log decrease at peak concentrations. Meropenem produced a mixed concentration- and time-dependent, killing effect against E. cloacae and K. pneumoniae. The ISB value ranged from 25% to 30% for E. cloacae. With concentrations above MIC for S. aureus (1 mg/L), cefpirome has a time-dependent bactericidal activity, as shown by the ISB ranging from 20% to 80% after 4 h and between 20% and 40% after an 8-h drug exposure. For both antibiotics, the higher concentrations obtained just after intermittent injection had a rapid and strong killing effect against the strains tested, but the trough levels had no bactericidal activity. The continuous infusions produce consistent concentrations of antibiotic that can be maintained above the MIC, and the bactericidal activity of which ranges from 2 to 4 log10 decrease of inoculum. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study the micropig has been shown to be an adequate model for the pharmacodynamic investigation of cefpirome and meropenem. In general, continuous infusion appears to optimize the pharmacodynamic profile of the two tested beta-lactam antibiotics. However, against Gram-negative bacilli, the administration of a loading dose prior to continuous infusion of beta-lactams would eliminate the only potential pharmacokinetic disadvantage of continuous infusion and ensure the rapid onset of antimicrobial activity.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.