Successful treatment of infective endocarditis due to pandrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae with ceftazidime-avibactam and aztreonam

Sci Rep. 2021 May 6;11(1):9684. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-89255-8.

Abstract

Pandrug-resistant (PDR) K. pneumoniae refractory to conventional treatment has been reported worldwide, causing a huge burden on the healthcare system, patient safety and the economy. K. pneumoniae is a prominent opportunistic pathogen causing hospital-acquired and community-acquired infections, but is rarely associated with infective endocarditis. Currently, there are sparse data guiding the optimal regimen when commonly used antibiotics fail, notably for the treatment of endocarditis infections. Here we report our experience in treating a 40-year-old female with PDR K. pneumoniae infection of cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) and right-sided infective endocarditis. Initial susceptibility testing of the incriminated pathogen showed an apparent susceptibility to colistin but the prolonged course of colistin, gentamicin and meropenem did not resolve the infection. However, the synergistic combinations of aztreonam with ceftazidime-avibactam was able to overcome resistance and clear the infection rapidly. Genome sequencing showed that the PDR K. pneumoniae isolate belongs to the international high-risk clone ST14. The isolate harbored genes encoding NDM-1, OXA-48, CTX-M-14b, SHV-28 and OXA-1, explaining resistance to all β-lactams, including carbapenems. It carried the armA gene conferring resistance to all clinically important aminoglycosides and had alterations in GyrA, ParC and MgrB, explaining resistance to ciprofloxacin and colistin.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Azabicyclo Compounds / administration & dosage
  • Azabicyclo Compounds / pharmacology
  • Azabicyclo Compounds / therapeutic use*
  • Aztreonam / administration & dosage
  • Aztreonam / pharmacology
  • Aztreonam / therapeutic use*
  • Ceftazidime / administration & dosage
  • Ceftazidime / pharmacology
  • Ceftazidime / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Combinations
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / drug effects*
  • Endocarditis / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae / drug effects*
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae / pathogenicity
  • Virulence Factors

Substances

  • Azabicyclo Compounds
  • Drug Combinations
  • Virulence Factors
  • avibactam, ceftazidime drug combination
  • Ceftazidime
  • Aztreonam