Background: Gram-negative rods are one of the most commonly isolated bacteria within human infections. These microorganisms are typically opportunistic pathogens that pose a serious threat to public health due to the possibility of transmission in the human population. Resistance to carbapenems is one of the most important antimicrobial resistance mechanisms amongst them. The aim of this study was to evaluate ceftolozane-tazobactam in vitro activity against carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical strains. Information on the antimicrobial activity of this antimicrobial against Gram-negative rods was also supplemented with a brief review of the relevant literature. Methods: The research involved 316 strains of Gram-negative rods: P. aeruginosa-206 and K. pneumoniae-110. Results: Of the tested strains, 86.0% P. aeruginosa and 30.0% K. pneumoniae remained susceptible to ceftolozane-tazobactam. Conclusions: Therefore, ceftolozane-tazobactam might be a good option in the treatment of infections caused by carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa strains, including those in ICU patients. Meanwhile, due to dissemination of ESBLs among K. pneumoniae strains, infections with this etiology should not be treated with the ceftolozane-tazobactam combination.
Keywords: Gram-negative rods; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; carbapenemases; carbapenems; ceftolozane; ceftolozane–tazobactam; imipenem; meropenem; tazobactam.