New drugs for difficult bugs: management of multidrug-resistant gram-negative infections in solid organ transplant recipients

Curr Opin Organ Transplant. 2021 Aug 1;26(4):424-431. doi: 10.1097/MOT.0000000000000890.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria remain a significant threat to patient and allograft survival. Management of these infections in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients remains challenging due to a limited antimicrobial pipeline and reliance on novel agents, which have not been systematically evaluated in the transplant population.

Recent findings: Novel antimicrobials, including the second-generation β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors, cefiderocol, plazomicin and eravacycline, have been developed to combat infections due to multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections, but each has microbiologic and therapeutic niches and warrant further study in SOT recipients.

Summary: This review summarizes therapeutic options for extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with difficult-to-treat resistance in SOT recipients and emphasizes recently approved antimicrobial agents.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria
  • Humans
  • Organ Transplantation* / adverse effects
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations*
  • Transplant Recipients

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations