In vitro activity of polymyxin B plus imipenem, meropenem, or tigecycline against KPC-2-producing Enterobacteriaceae with high MICs for these antimicrobials

Abstract

We evaluated the in vitro activity of polymyxin B plus imipenem, meropenem, or tigecycline against six KPC-2-producing Enterobacteriaceae strains with high MICs for these antimicrobial agents. Polymyxin B with carbapenems, especially meropenem, were the most active combinations for Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae regardless of the polymyxin B concentration used in the time-kill assay. This combination was also synergistic against two Serratia marcescens strains that are intrinsically resistant to polymyxins. Polymyxin B and tigecycline also presented synergistic activity in most experiments.