In vitro activity against Staphylococcus aureus of a novel antimicrobial agent, PRF-119, a recombinant chimeric bacteriophage endolysin

Antistaphylococcal activity of the novel chimeric endolysin PRF-119 was evaluated with the microdilution method. The MIC(50) and MIC(90) of 398 methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus isolates were 0.098 μg/ml and 0.391 μg/ml, respectively (range, 0.024 to 0.780 μg/ml). Both the MIC(50) and MIC(90) values of 776 methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates were 0.391 μg/ml (range, 0.024 to 1.563 μg/ml). All 192 clinical isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococci exhibited MIC values of >50 μg/ml. In conclusion, PRF-119 exhibited very good activity specifically against S. aureus.     

Worldwide appraisal and update (2010) of telavancin activity tested against a collection of Gram-positive clinical pathogens from five continents

A total of 15,480 Gram-positive pathogens were collected from 89 sites in the United States, Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, and Latin America in 2010. Telavancin was active against indicated Staphylococcus aureus (MIC(50/90), 0.12/0.25 μg/ml), vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus faecalis (MIC(50/90), 0.5/0.5 μg/ml), and beta-hemolytic (MIC(50/90), 0.06/0.12 μg/ml) and viridans group streptococcus (MIC(50/90), 0.03/0.06 μg/ml) isolates. These MIC results showed potency for telavancin equal to or greater than that of comparators. These in vitro data confirm a continued potent activity of telavancin when tested against contemporary Gram-positive clinical isolates.     

Comparative in vitro activities of LFF571 against Clostridium difficile and 630 other intestinal strains of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria

The in vitro activities of LFF571, a novel analog of GE2270A that inhibits bacterial growth by binding with high affinity for protein synthesis elongation factor Tu, fidaxomicin, and 10 other antimicrobial agents were determined against 50 strains of Clostridium difficile and 630 other anaerobic and aerobic organisms of intestinal origin. LFF571 possesses potent activity against C. difficile and most other Gram-positive anaerobes (MIC(90), ≤ 0.25 μg/ml), with the exception of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. The MIC(90)s for aerobes, including enterococci, Staphylococcus aureus (as well as methicillin-resistant S. aureus [MRSA] isolates), Streptococcus pyogenes, and other streptococci were 0.06, 0.125, 2, and 8 μg/ml, respectively. Comparatively, fidaxomicin showed variable activity against Gram-positive organisms: MIC(90)s against C. difficile, Clostridium perfringens, and Bifidobacterium spp. were 0.5, ≤ 0.015, and 0.125 μg/ml, respectively, but >32 μg/ml against Clostridium ramosum and Clostridium innocuum. MIC(90) for S. pyogenes and other streptococci was 16 and >32 μg/ml, respectively. LFF571 and fidaxomicin were generally less active against Gram-negative anaerobes.     

Activity of Ceftaroline-Avibactam Tested against Gram-Negative Organism Populations, including Strains Expressing One or More β-Lactamases and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Carrying Various Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec Types

Ceftaroline is a new cephalosporin with broad-spectrum activity against Gram-positive and -negative organisms. The prodrug of ceftaroline, ceftaroline fosamil, combined with the β-lactamase inhibitor avibactam (formerly NXL104), was tested against Enterobacteriaceae strains producing Ambler class A, B, C, and D enzymes, including strains producing multiple enzymes, as well as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter spp., and methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. Isolates were collected from 1999 to 2008 from global surveillance programs, and susceptibility testing was performed by reference broth microdilution methods. Ceftaroline-avibactam exhibited potent activity against Enterobacteriaceae producing various β-lactamase types (MIC(90), 0.25 to 2 μg/ml, except for metalloenzymes), including 99 strains carrying multiple enzymes (2 to 4 β-lactamases; MIC(90), 2 μg/ml). All isolates were inhibited by ceftaroline-avibactam at ≤4 μg/ml. Ceftaroline-avibactam (MIC(90), 0.5 to 1 μg/ml) was more active than meropenem (MIC(90), >8 μg/ml) and other comparators when tested against KPC-producing strains. S. aureus strains, including MRSA with four staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) types, were dominantly (99.1%) inhibited by ceftaroline-avibactam at ≤2 μg/ml, and the ceftaroline MIC was not adversely affected by the addition of the β-lactamase inhibitor (MIC(50/90), 1 and 2 μg/ml for ceftaroline with and without avibactam). Ceftaroline-avibactam demonstrated limited activity against Acinetobacter spp. and P. aeruginosa (MIC(50)s, 32 and 16 μg/ml, respectively). These results document that ceftaroline-avibactam has potent activity against Enterobacteriaceae that produce KPC, various ESBL types (CTX-M types), and AmpC (chromosomally derepressed or plasmid-mediated enzymes), as well as against those producing more than one of these β-lactamase types, and its development as a therapeutic option for the treatment of infections caused by multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae as well as MRSA is warranted.     

Summary of ceftaroline activity against pathogens in the United States, 2010: report from the Assessing Worldwide Antimicrobial Resistance Evaluation (AWARE) surveillance program

The Assessing Worldwide Antimicrobial Resistance Evaluation (AWARE) surveillance program is a sentinel resistance monitoring system designed to track the activity of ceftaroline and comparator agents. In the United States, a total of 8,434 isolates were collected during the 2010 surveillance program from 65 medical centers distributed across the nine census regions (5 to 10 medical centers per region). All organisms were isolated from documented infections, including 3,055 (36.2%) bloodstream infections, 2,282 (27.1%) respiratory tract infections, 1,965 (23.3%) acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections, 665 (7.9%) urinary tract infections, and 467 (5.5%) miscellaneous other infection sites. Ceftaroline was the most potent β-lactam agent tested against staphylococci. The MIC(90) values were 1 μg/ml for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA; 98.4% susceptible) and 0.5 μg/ml for methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS). Ceftaroline was 16- to 32-fold more potent than ceftriaxone against methicillin-susceptible staphylococcal strains. All staphylococcus isolates (S. aureus and CoNS) were inhibited at ceftaroline MIC values of ≤ 2 μg/ml. Ceftaroline also displayed potent activity against streptococci (MIC(90), 0.015 μg/ml for beta-hemolytic streptococci; MIC(90), 0.25 μg/ml for penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae). Potent activity was also shown against Gram-negative pathogens (Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis). Furthermore, wild-type strains of Enterobacteriaceae (non-extended-spectrum β-lactamase [ESBL]-producing strains and non-AmpC-hyperproducing strains) were often susceptible to ceftaroline. Continued monitoring through surveillance networks will allow for the assessment of the evolution of resistance as this new cephalosporin is used more broadly to provide clinicians with up-to-date information to assist in antibiotic stewardship and therapeutic decision making.     

In vitro activity of TD-1792, a multivalent glycopeptide-cephalosporin antibiotic, against 377 strains of anaerobic bacteria and 34 strains of Corynebacterium species

TD-1792 is a multivalent glycopeptide-cephalosporin heterodimer antibiotic with potent activity against Gram-positive bacteria. We tested TD-1792 against 377 anaerobes and 34 strains of Corynebacterium species. Against nearly all Gram-positive strains, TD-1792 had an MIC₉₀ of 0.25 μg/ml and was typically 3 to 7 dilutions more active than vancomycin and daptomycin.     

Pharmacodynamics of TD-1792, a novel glycopeptide-cephalosporin heterodimer antibiotic used against Gram-positive bacteria, in a neutropenic murine thigh model

TD-1792 is a novel glycopeptide-cephalosporin heterodimer investigational antibiotic that displays potent bactericidal effects against clinically relevant Gram-positive organisms in vitro. The present studies evaluated the in vivo pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of TD-1792 in the neutropenic murine thigh infection animal model. TD-1792, dosed subcutaneously (SC), produced dose-dependent reduction in the thigh bacterial burden of several organisms, including methicillin-susceptible and -resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis (MSSA, MRSA, MSSE, MRSE, respectively), penicillin-susceptible strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae (PSSP), Streptococcus pyogenes, and vancomycin-intermediate-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (VISA). In single-dose efficacy studies, the 1-log(10) CFU kill effective dose (ED(1-log kill)) estimates for TD-1792 ranged from 0.049 to 2.55 mg/kg of body weight administered SC, and the bacterial burden was reduced by up to 3 log(10) CFU/g from pretreatment values. Against S. aureus ATCC 33591 (MRSA), the total 24-h log(10) stasis dose (ED(stasis)) and ED(1-logkill) doses for TD-1792 were 0.53 and 1.11 mg/kg/24 h, respectively, compared to 23.4 and 54.6 mg/kg/24 h for vancomycin, indicating that TD-1762 is 44- to 49-fold more potent than vancomycin. PK-PD analysis of data from single-dose and dose-fractionation studies for MRSA (ATCC 33591) demonstrated that the total-drug 24-h area under the concentration-time curve-to-MIC ratio (AUC/MIC ratio) was the best predictor of efficacy (r(2) = 0.826) compared to total-drug maximum plasma concentration of drug-to-MIC ratio (Cmax/MIC ratio; r(2) = 0.715) and percent time that the total-drug plasma drug concentration remains above the MIC (%Time>MIC; r(2) = 0.749). The magnitudes of the total-drug AUC/MIC ratios associated with net bacterial stasis, a 1-log(10) CFU reduction from baseline and near maximal effect, were 21.1, 37.2, and 51.8, respectively. PK-PD targets based on such data represent useful inputs for analyses to support dose selection decisions for clinical studies of patients.     

Antimicrobial properties of MX-2401, an expanded-spectrum lipopeptide active in the presence of lung surfactant

MX-2401 is an expanded-spectrum lipopeptide antibiotic selective for Gram-positive bacteria that is a semisynthetic analog of the naturally occurring lipopeptide amphomycin. It was active against Enterococcus spp., including vancomycin-sensitive Enterococcus (VSE), vanA-, vanB-, and vanC-positive vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), linezolid- and quinupristin-dalfopristin-resistant isolates (MIC(90) of 4 μg/ml), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) (MIC(90) of 2 μg/ml), coagulase-negative staphylococci, including methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus epidermidis (MSSE) and methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis (MRSE) (MIC(90) of 2 μg/ml), and Streptococcus spp. including viridans group streptococci, and penicillin-resistant, penicillin-sensitive, penicillin-intermediate and macrolide-resistant isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae (MIC(90) of 2 μg/ml). MX-2401 demonstrated a dose-dependent postantibiotic effect varying from 1.5 to 2.4 h. Furthermore, MX-2401 was rapidly bactericidal at 4 times the MIC against S. aureus and Enterococcus faecalis, with more than 99.9% reduction in viable bacterial attained at 4 and 24 h, respectively. The MICs of MX-2401 against MRSA, MSSA, VSE, and VRE strains serially exposed for 15 passages to sub- to supra-MICs of MX-2401 remained within three dilutions of the original MIC. In contrast to that of the lipopeptide daptomycin, the antibacterial activity of MX-2401 was not affected in vitro by the presence of lung surfactant, and MX-2401 was active in vivo in the bronchial-alveolar pneumonia mouse model, in which daptomycin failed to show any activity. Moreover, the activity of MX-2401 was not as strongly dependent on the Ca(2+) concentration as is the activity of daptomycin. In conclusion, MX-2401 is a promising new-generation lipopeptide for the treatment of serious infections with Gram-positive bacteria, including hospital-acquired pneumonia.     

Comparative surveillance study of telavancin activity against recently collected gram-positive clinical isolates from across the United States

Telavancin is an investigational, rapidly bactericidal lipoglycopeptide antibiotic that is being developed to treat serious infections caused by gram-positive bacteria. A baseline prospective surveillance study was conducted to assess telavancin activity, in comparison with other agents, against contemporary clinical isolates collected from 2004 to 2005 from across the United States. Nearly 4,000 isolates were collected, including staphylococci, enterococci, and streptococci (pneumococci, beta-hemolytic, and viridans). Telavancin had potent activity against Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (MIC range, 0.03 to 1.0 microg/ml), independent of resistance to methicillin or to multiple agents. Telavancin activity was particularly potent against all streptococcal groups (MIC(90)s, 0.03 to 0.12 microg/ml). Telavancin had excellent activity against vancomycin-susceptible enterococci (MIC(90), 1 microg/ml) and was active against VanB strains of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (MIC(90), 2 microg/ml) but less active against VanA strains (MIC(90), 8 to 16 microg/ml). Telavancin also demonstrated activity against vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus strains (MICs, 0.5 microg/ml to 1.0 microg/ml and 1.0 microg/ml to 4.0 microg/ml, respectively). These data may support the efficacy of telavancin for treatment of serious infections with a wide range of gram-positive organisms.     

In vitro activities of the novel cephalosporin LB 11058 against multidrug-resistant Staphylococci and Streptococci

LB 11058 is a novel parenteral cephalosporin with a C-3 pyrimidinyl-substituted vinyl sulfide group and a C-7 2-amino-5-chloro-1,3-thiazole group. This study evaluated the in vitro activity and spectrum of LB 11058 against 1,245 recent clinical isolates, including a subset of gram-positive strains with specific resistant phenotypes. LB 11058 was very active against Streptococcus pneumoniae. The novel cephalosporin was 8- to 16-fold more potent than ceftriaxone, cefepime, or amoxicillin-clavulanate against both penicillin-intermediate and -resistant S. pneumoniae. LB 11058 was also very active against both beta-hemolytic streptococci (MIC at which 90% of isolates were inhibited [MIC(90)], 64 micro g/ml) and Corynebacterium spp. (MIC(50), 32 micro g/ml). Against gram-negative pathogens, LB 11058 showed activity against Haemophilus influenzae (MIC(90), 0.25 to 0.5 micro g/ml) and Moraxella catarrhalis (MIC(90), 0.25 micro g/ml), with MICs not influenced by beta-lactamase production. In conclusion, LB 11058 demonstrated a broad antibacterial spectrum and was highly active against gram-positive bacteria, particularly against multidrug-resistant staphylococci and streptococci.     

Oritavancin activity against vancomycin-susceptible and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci with molecularly characterized glycopeptide resistance genes recovered from bacteremic patients, 2009-2010

Oritavancin exhibited potent activity against vancomycin-susceptible (MIC(50) and MIC(90), 0.015/0.03 μg/ml) and vanB-carrying E. faecalis isolates (MIC(50) and MIC(90), 0.015 and 0.015 μg/ml). Higher (16- to 32-fold) MIC(50)s and MIC(90)s for vanA-harboring E. faecalis were noted (MIC(50) and MIC(90), 0.25 and 0.5 μg/ml), although oritavancin inhibited all strains at ≤ 0.5 μg/ml. Vancomycin-susceptible and vanB-carrying E. faecium strains (MIC(50) and MIC(90), ≤ 0.008 and ≤ 0.008 μg/ml for both) were very susceptible to oritavancin, as were VanA-producing isolates (MIC(50) and MIC(90), 0.03 and 0.06 μg/ml). Oritavancin exhibited good in vitro potency against this collection of organisms, including vancomycin-resistant enterococci.     

Activity of ceftaroline and epidemiologic trends in Staphylococcus aureus isolates collected from 43 medical centers in the United States in 2009

A Staphylococcus aureus surveillance program was initiated in the United States to examine the in vitro activity of ceftaroline and epidemiologic trends. Susceptibility testing by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute broth microdilution was performed on 4,210 clinically significant isolates collected in 2009 from 43 medical centers. All isolates were screened for mecA by PCR and evaluated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) were analyzed for Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes and the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) type. All isolates had ceftaroline MICs of ≤2 μg/ml with an MIC(50) of 0.5 and an MIC(90) of 1 μg/ml. The overall resistance rates, expressed as the percentages of isolates that were intermediate and resistant (or nonsusceptible), were as follows: ceftaroline, 1.0%; clindamycin, 30.2% (17.4% MIC ≥ 4 μg/ml; 12.8% inducible); daptomycin, 0.2%; erythromycin, 65.5%; levofloxacin, 39.9%; linezolid, 0.02%; oxacillin, 53.4%; tetracycline, 4.4%; tigecycline, 0%; trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, 1.6%; vancomycin, 0%; and high-level mupirocin, 2.2%. The mecA PCR was positive for 53.4% of the isolates. The ceftaroline MIC(90)s were 0.25 μg/ml for methicillin-susceptible S. aureus and 1 μg/ml for MRSA. Among the 2,247 MRSA isolates, 51% were USA300 (96.9% PVL positive, 99.7% SCCmec type IV) and 17% were USA100 (93.4% SCCmec type II). The resistance rates for the 1,137 USA300 MRSA isolates were as follows: erythromycin, 90.9%; levofloxacin, 49.1%; clindamycin, 7.6% (6.2% MIC ≥ 4 μg/ml; 1.4% inducible); tetracycline, 3.3%; trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, 0.8%; high-level mupirocin, 2.7%; daptomycin, 0.4%; and ceftaroline and linezolid, 0%. USA300 is the dominant clone causing MRSA infections in the United States. Ceftaroline demonstrated potent in vitro activity against recent S. aureus clinical isolates, including MRSA, daptomycin-nonsusceptible, and linezolid-resistant strains.     

Surveillance of JNJ-Q2 activity tested against Staphylococcus aureus and beta-hemolytic streptococci as a component of the 2010 SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program

JNJ-Q2 is a novel broad-spectrum bactericidal fluorinated 4-quinolone with potent activity against Gram-positive and -negative pathogens with a balanced potency against both DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV targets. JNJ-Q2 is in clinical development for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infections (ABSSSIs) and community-acquired bacterial pneumonia. With the use of reference broth microdilution methods in a central reference laboratory design, MIC values were obtained for 3650 pathogens (44.4% were from patients diagnosed with ABSSSI) obtained during the 2010 SENTRY antimicrobial surveillance program. Isolates were collected from patients in 96 medical centers in 26 countries in North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific. JNJ-Q2 demonstrated good activity overall (MIC(50/90), 0.015/0.5 μg/mL) and against 3081 Staphylococcus aureus with >95% of the isolates inhibited at a MIC of ≤0.5 μg/mL; against 1410 levofloxacin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates, >90% were inhibited by MIC ≤0.5 μg/mL. All isolates were inhibited at a MIC of ≤2 μg/mL. In addition, JNJ-Q2 demonstrated excellent activity (MIC(90), 0.015 μg/mL) against 569 isolates of beta-hemolytic streptococci (including 278 Streptococcus pyogenes and 161 Streptococcus agalactiae). JNJ-Q2 was the most potent fluoroquinolone tested overall and against all pathogens when compared directly to moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin.     

In Vitro Activity and Microbiological Efficacy of Tedizolid (TR-700) against Gram-Positive Clinical Isolates from a Phase 2 Study of Oral Tedizolid Phosphate (TR-701) in Patients with Complicated Skin and Skin Structure Infections

Tedizolid (TR-700, formerly torezolid) is the active moiety of the prodrug tedizolid phosphate (TR-701), a next-generation oxazolidinone, with high potency against Gram-positive species, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). A recently completed randomized, double-blind phase 2 trial evaluated 200, 300, or 400 mg of oral tedizolid phosphate once daily for 5 to 7 days in patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections. This report examines the in vitro activity of tedizolid and Zyvox (linezolid) against Gram-positive pathogens isolated at baseline and describes the microbiological and clinical efficacy of tedizolid. Of 196 isolates tested, 81.6% were S. aureus, and of these, 76% were MRSA. The MIC(50) and MIC(90) of tedizolid against both methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and MRSA were 0.25 μg/ml, compared with a MIC(50) of 1 μg/ml and MIC(90) of 2 μg/ml for linezolid. For coagulase-negative staphylococci (n = 7), viridans group streptococci (n = 15), and beta-hemolytic streptococci (n = 3), the MICs ranged from 0.03 to 0.25 μg/ml for tedizolid and from 0.12 to 1 μg/ml for linezolid. The microbiological eradication rates at the test-of-cure visit (7 to 14 days posttreatment) in the microbiologically evaluable population (n = 133) were similar in all treatment groups, with overall eradication rates of 97.7% for all pathogens, 97.9% for MRSA, and 95.7% for MSSA. The clinical cure rates for MRSA and MSSA infections were 96.9% and 95.7%, respectively, across all dose groups. This study confirms the potent in vitro activity of tedizolid against pathogenic Gram-positive cocci, including MRSA, and its 4-fold-greater potency in comparison with linezolid. All dosages of tedizolid phosphate showed excellent microbiological and clinical efficacy against MRSA and MSSA.     

In vitro activity of ceftobiprole against frequently encountered aerobic and facultative Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial pathogens: results of the CANWARD 2007-2009 study

The in vitro activity of ceftobiprole was evaluated against 15 011 clinical isolates obtained from patients in Canadian hospitals between 2007 and 2009. All Staphylococcus aureus were susceptible to ceftobiprole (MIC(90)'s for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus of ≤ 1 μg/mL and 2 μg/mL, respectively). Ceftobiprole was active against penicillin-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae (MIC(90), ≤ 0.06 μg/mL), penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (MIC(90), 0.5 μg/mL), Streptococcus pyogenes (MIC(90), ≤ 0.06 μg/mL), Staphylococcus epidermidis (MIC(90), ≤ 1 μg/mL), and Enterococcus faecalis (MIC(90), ≤ 1 μg/mL). Over 90% of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter aerogenes, Citrobacter freundii, Proteus mirabilis, and Serratia marcescens isolates were inhibited by a ceftobiprole concentration of ≤ 1 μg/mL. Ceftobiprole was not active against extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and K. pneumoniae. The in vitro activity of ceftobiprole versus Pseudomonas aeruginosa was similar to that of cefepime (MIC(90), 16 μg/mL). The broad spectrum of activity by ceftobiprole would support further study of this agent in the treatment of hospital-acquired infections.     

Comparative in vitro activity of CGP 31608, a new penem antibiotic.

The in vitro activity of a new penem antimicrobial agent, CGP 31608, was compared with those of imipenem, SCH 34343, and several other antimicrobial agents against approximately 600 bacterial isolates. CGP 31608 was active against gram-positive organisms, including methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MIC for 90% of the isolates [MIC90], 0.25 microgram/ml) and penicillin-susceptible streptococci (MIC90s, less than or equal to 2 micrograms/ml). Penicillin-resistant streptococci (including enterococci) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus were more resistant to the penem. Activities of CGP 31608 against members of the family Enterobacteriaceae were remarkably uniform, with MIC90s of 8 to 16 micrograms/ml. CGP 31608 was at least as active as imipenem and ceftazidime and more active than piperacillin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Drug activity was not influenced by the presence of any of 10 plasmid-mediated beta-lactamases. Against strains of Serratia marcescens, Enterobacter cloacae, and P. aeruginosa with derepressible chromosomally mediated beta-lactamases, the presence of cefoxitin did not induce increased resistance to CGP 31608. The new drug was also active against anaerobes (MIC90s, 0.25 to 8 micrograms/ml), Haemophilus influenzae (MIC90s, 0.5 to 1.0 micrograms/ml), and Legionella spp. (MIC90, 2 micrograms/ml). CGP 31608 showed an antibacterial spectrum similar to those of imipenem and SCH 34343 (except that the latter is not active against P. aeruginosa) but was generally less potent than these drugs. However, CGP 31608 demonstrated more activity (MIC90) than imipenem against P. aeruginosa, Pseudomonas cepacia, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis and S. aureus.     

In Vitro Activity of the New Multivalent Glycopeptide-Cephalosporin Antibiotic TD-1792 against Vancomycin-Nonsusceptible Staphylococcus Isolates

TD-1792 is a glycopeptide-cephalosporin heterodimer antibiotic with activity against a broad spectrum of Gram-positive pathogens that includes methicillin-susceptible and -resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of TD-1792 against a collection of clinical isolates of vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus spp. (VISS), heteroresistant VISS (hVISS), and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA). The TD-1792, vancomycin, daptomycin, linezolid, and quinupristin-dalfopristin MICs and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were determined for 50 VISS/hVISS isolates and 3 VRSA isolates. Time-kill experiments (TKs) were then performed over 24 h with two vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus strains and two VRSA strains, using each agent at multiples of the MIC. TD-1792 and daptomycin were also evaluated in the presence and absence of 50% human serum to determine the effects of the proteins on their activities. Most of the VISS/hVISS isolates were susceptible to all agents except vancomycin. TD-1792 exhibited the lowest MIC values (MIC₉₀ = 0.125 μg/ml), followed by quinupristin-dalfopristin and daptomycin (MIC₉₀ = 1 μg/ml) and then linezolid (MIC₉₀ = 2 μg/ml). The presence of serum resulted in a 2- to 8-fold increase in the TD-1792 and daptomycin MIC values. In TKs, QD demonstrated bactericidal activity at multiples of the MIC that simulated therapeutic levels, whereas linezolid was only bacteriostatic. Both TD-1792 and daptomycin demonstrated rapid bactericidal activities against all isolates tested. The presence of proteins had only a minimal impact on the activity of TD-1792 in TKs. TD-1792 exhibited significant in vitro activity against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus isolates and represents a promising candidate for the treatment of infections caused by Gram-positive organisms.Staphylococcus aureus is a well-recognized source of serious and recurrent bacterial infections. Over the years, this pathogen has developed and/or acquired mechanisms of resistance to numerous classes of antimicrobials, including penicillins, β-lactams, and more recently, lipopeptides and glycopeptides (6). As the primary treatment for methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infections in the United States, the use of vancomycin has dramatically increased, paralleling the enhanced prevalence of MRSA infections (2, 15). These simultaneous phenomena have led to selective pressure on this pathogen, thus resulting in the emergence of clinical isolates of staphylococci with reduced susceptibility to glycopeptides (15).The mechanism of vancomycin resistance has been clearly characterized in Staphylococcus spp. with the identification of the van genes acquired from Enterococcus spp. (21). To date, 10 isolates of vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA) have been described and display vancomycin MICs ranging from 32 to 1,024 μg/ml (2, 21). In addition to this problematic and well-known mechanism of resistance, Staphylococcus isolates have also developed reduced or intermediate susceptibility to glycopeptides. This phenotype represents a major issue for infectious disease clinicians and researchers, since these organisms are difficult to identify and have been associated with poor clinical outcomes, including increased lengths of stay and prolonged bacteremia (2, 19). Vancomycin-intermediate staphylococcal species (VISS) exhibit a vancomycin MIC value of 4 to 16 μg/ml (previously, 8 to 16 μg/ml) (19). In contrast, heterogeneous VISS (hVISS) have vancomycin MICs of ≤2 μg/ml by standard methods of MIC determination and are difficult to identify, requiring nonroutine quantitative tests such as the Etest macromethod or the expensive and time-consuming modified population analysis profile method (19, 23).A number of new agents are currently under development to meet the challenge of the limited therapeutic alternatives to treat hVISS and VISS infections (9). These new drugs display multiple mechanisms of action that have the potential to lower the likelihood of the emergence of resistance (9). TD-1792 (Theravance Inc., South San Francisco, CA) is a new covalently linked glycopeptide-cephalosporin heterodimer antimicrobial agent being investigated for its substantial bactericidal activity against Gram-positive organisms, including multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates (7). The spectrum of activity of TD-1792 covers the majority of clinically relevant Gram-positive pathogens and includes methicillin-susceptible and -resistant S. aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci, Enterococcus spp., and Streptococcus spp. (7). Recent pharmacokinetic data from single- and multiple-dosing studies with healthy volunteers demonstrated achievable serum concentrations of 4.65 ± 0.64 μg/ml and a half-life of between 6.8 and 11.3 h. These studies also demonstrated that TD-1792 has time-independent linear pharmacokinetic properties and that the concentrations achieved in vivo support once-daily administration (8, 22).Since limited data on TD-1792 are available, the primary objective of the present study was to compare its in vitro activity to the activities of vancomycin, linezolid, quinupristin-dalfopristin, and daptomycin against VISS/hVISS and three VRSA isolates. In addition, because any information regarding the effects of protein on the bactericidal properties of antimicrobials is essential to understand the data from in vitro and in vivo studies, we explored the activities of TD-1792 (49% protein binding in human plasma) (16) and daptomycin (92% protein binding in human plasma) in the presence of human serum (1).(A portion of this work was presented at the 47th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, Chicago, IL, 2007, poster E-1623.)     

In vitro activity of dalbavancin and telavancin against staphylococci and streptococci isolated from patients in Canadian hospitals: results of the CANWARD 2007-2009 study

Two novel lipoglycopeptides, dalbavancin and telavancin, and relevant comparative agents were tested for in vitro activity against clinical isolates of staphylococci and streptococci collected in the cross-Canada surveillance study, CANWARD, in 2007-2009. The rank order of potency (based on MIC(90) [μg/mL], i.e., the concentration of antimicrobial agent required to inhibit the growth of 90% of isolates tested) of glycopeptides against both Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis was dalbavancin (0.06 μg/mL) >telavancin (0.5 μg/mL) > vancomycin (1-2 μg/mL); concurrent susceptibility or resistance to oxacillin in staphylococci did not affect potency of glycopeptides. Dalbavancin and telavancin also demonstrated potent activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae, including penicillin-resistant isolates (MIC(90), ≤ 0.03 μg/mL; ≤ 0.06 μg/mL), and Streptococcus pyogenes (≤ 0.03 μg/mL; 0.06 μg/mL). Based on their robust in vitro activities, dalbavancin and telavancin have the potential to treat Gram-positive infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae.     

Comparison of in vitro activities of ABT-773 and telithromycin against macrolide-susceptible and -resistant streptococci and staphylococci

The activity of a new ketolide, ABT-773, was compared to the activity of the ketolide telithromycin (HMR-3647) against over 600 gram-positive clinical isolates, including 356 Streptococcus pneumoniae, 167 Staphylococcus aureus, and 136 Streptococcus pyogenes isolates. Macrolide-susceptible isolates as well as macrolide-resistant isolates with ribosomal methylase (Erm), macrolide efflux (Mef), and ribosomal mutations were tested using the NCCLS reference broth microdilution method. Both compounds were extremely active against macrolide-susceptible isolates, with the minimum inhibitory concentrations at which 90% of the isolates tested were inhibited (MIC90s) for susceptible streptococci and staphylococci ranging from 0.002 to 0.03 microg/ml for ABT-773 and 0.008 to 0.06 microg/ml for telithromycin. ABT-773 had increased activities against macrolide-resistant S. pneumoniae (Erm MIC90, 0.015 microg/ml; Mef MIC90, 0.12 microg/ml) compared to those of telithromycin (Erm MIC90, 0.12 microg/ml; Mef MIC90, 1 microg/ml). Both compounds were active against strains with rRNA or ribosomal protein mutations (MIC90, 0.12 microg/ml). ABT-773 was also more active against macrolide-resistant S. pyogenes (ABT-773 Erm MIC90, 0.5 microg/ml; ABT-773 Mef MIC90, 0.12 microg/ml; telithromycin Erm MIC90, >8 microg/ml; telithromycin Mef MIC90, 1.0 microg/ml). Both compounds lacked activity against constitutive macrolide-resistant Staphylococcus aureus but had good activities against inducibly resistant Staphylococcus aureus (ABT-773 MIC90, 0.06 microg/ml; telithromycin MIC90, 0.5 microg/ml). ABT-773 has superior activity against macrolide-resistant streptococci compared to that of telithromycin.     

In vitro antibacterial activities of DQ-113, a potent quinolone, against clinical isolates

The antibacterial activity of DQ-113, formerly D61-1113, was compared with those of antibacterial agents currently available. MICs at which 90% of the isolates tested are inhibited (MIC90s) of DQ-113 against clinical isolates of methicillin-susceptible and -resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-susceptible and -resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci were 0.03, 0.008, 0.03, and 0.06 microg/ml, respectively. Moreover, DQ-113 showed the most potent activity against ofloxacin-resistant and methicillin-resistant S. aureus, with a MIC90 of 0.25microg/ml. DQ-113 inhibited the growth of all strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, including penicillin-resistant strains, and Streptococcus pyogenes at 0.06 microg/ml, and DQ-113 was more active than the other quinolones tested against Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium with MIC90s of 0.25 and 2 microg/ml, respectively. Against vancomycin-resistant enterococci, DQ-113 showed the highest activity among the reference compounds, with a MIC range from 0.25 to 2 microg/ml. DQ-113 also showed a potent activity against Haemophilus influenzae, including ampicillin-resistant strains (MIC90, 0.015 microg/ml), and Moraxella catarrhalis (MIC90, 0.03 microg/ml). The activity of DQ-113 was roughly comparable to that of levofloxacin against all species of ENTEROBACTERIACEAE: The MICs of DQ-113 against ofloxacin-susceptible Pseudomonas aeruginosa ranged from 0.25 to 2 microg/ml, which were four times higher than those of ciprofloxacin. From these results, DQ-113 showed the most potent activity against gram-positive pathogens among antibacterial agents tested.