In vitro activity of plazomicin among carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) have been disseminated worldwide and became a global threat. Due to limited therapeutic drugs plazomicin-a new semisynthetic aminoglycoside-have been suggested as an alternative option due to its stability against aminoglycosides modifying enzymes. AIM: This study aims to assess the in vitro activity of plazomicin against CRE isolates and to detect different types of carbapenemases among these isolates. METHODS: In this study, 102 CRE isolates were collected from different clinical samples at Cairo University hospitals and the presence of carbapenemases was detected by modified carbapenem inhibition method and multiplex polymerase chain reaction tests. Plazomicin susceptibility testing was done using E-test. RESULTS: The most frequently detected carbapenemase genes were blaNDM in 75 (73.5%) isolates, followed by blaOXA-48 in 57 (55.9%) and blaKPC in 16 (15.5%) isolates. Plazomicin was active against 32 (31.4%) isolates. Among the isolates carrying blaNDM gene only and those carrying blaOXA-48 gene only, 21% and 41% were sensitive to plazomicin, respectively. Plazomicin showed the highest sensitivity against CRE isolates compared to the other tested antibiotics. CONCLUSION: Plazomicin might be a good option for treatment of infections caused by CRE. In health-care settings where blaNDM gene is prevalent, plazomicin may not be a good therapeutic option for CRE infections.