Ceftazidime–avibactam: an evidence-based review of its pharmacology and potential use in the treatment of Gram-negative bacterial infections

Introduction

Cephalosporins remain important agents in the treatment of many types of bacterial infections because of their broad-spectrum activity, well-characterized pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, and proven safety and efficacy.¹ Ceftazidime is a third-generation cephalosporin that was introduced into clinical use in the 1980s because it demonstrated broad-spectrum activity against Gram-positive cocci and Gram-negative bacilli, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Unfortunately, over time, the utility of all cephalosporins to treat infections involving Gram-negative bacilli is known to have become compromised by increasingly present extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs),² Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases (KPCs),³ metallo-β-lactamases,³ and chromosomal AmpC β-lactamases,⁴ as well as multidrug-resistant phenotypes.⁵ Recent surveillance data from Europe and the United States indicates that <75% of nosocomial isolates of P. aeruginosa and Klebsiella spp. are now susceptible to ceftazidime.⁶ Further, resistance to ceftazidime in Escherichia coli isolates from intra-abdominal infections and urinary tract infections currently exceeds 10% in many North American hospitals.^6–8

Avibactam (NXL104, AVE1330A) was first reported in 2003 and is a non-β-lactam (diazabicyclooctane), β-lactamase inhibitor that is active against known Ambler class A and C β-lactamases and which also possesses activity against some Ambler class D enzymes.^9,10 Avibactam is being developed in combination with ceftazidime, as well as in combination with ceftaroline, with the intention of inhibiting β-lactamases with activity against these cephalosporins and therefore broadening their spectra of activity. Ceftazidime–avibactam is currently in Phase III clinical trials for treatment of complicated urinary tract infection and complicated intra-abdominal infection (http://clinicaltrials.gov, identifiers NCT01595438,¹¹ NCT01599806,¹² NCT01499290,¹³ and NCT01500239¹⁴).

This article will review the existing published data for ceftazidime–avibactam, including chemistry, microbiology, mechanisms of action, mechanisms of resistance, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, clinical trials, and safety. Literature for this review was obtained via a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, Scopus, and databases of scientific meetings from 2005 to September 2013 for all materials containing the terms “ceftazidime” and any containing “avibactam,” “NXL104,” or “AVE1330A.”

Chemistry

The chemical structure of ceftazidime is (6R,7R,Z)-7-(2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-2-(2-carboxypropan-2-yloxyimino)acetamido)-8-oxo-3-(pyridinium-1-ylmethyl)-5-thia-1-aza-bicyclo[4.2.0] oct-2-ene-2-carboxylate (molecular formula, C₂₂H₂₂ N₆O₇S₂; molecular mass, 546.58 g/mol) (Figure 1). Ceftazidime, like other cephalosporins and cephamycins, contains a cephem nucleus (a bicyclic ring system composed of a four-member β-lactam ring fused with a six-member dihydrothiazine ring, with a sulfur atom at position 1, a double bond at position 3, and a carboxylic acid at position 4).^1,15 The characteristic properties of specific cephalosporins arise from side-chains attached to the cephem nucleus at positions 3 and 7 and have been extensively reviewed elsewhere.^16–18 At position 3, ceftazidime has a methylpyridinium group that is responsible for its activity against P. aeruginosa¹⁶ and provides enhanced water solubility because of its zwitterionic properties.¹⁵ At position 7, ceftazidime has an aminoacyl group with an aminothiadiazole ring and a carboxypropyl-oxyimino chain linked to its α-carbon. An aminothiadiazole ring is frequently found in extended-spectrum cephalosporins because it confers increased activity against Gram-negative bacilli. The carboxypropyl-oxyimino group confers significantly increased activity against P. aeruginosa and slightly less activity against Enterobacteriaceae compared with the methoxyimino group frequently found in other third-generation cephalosporins; both the carboxypropyl-oxyimino group and the methoxyimino group confer similar stability to β-lactamases.¹⁹ Ceftazidime is synthesized in a multistep process using 7-aminocephalosporanic acid as starting material; it is available for human use in an anhydrous form or as a pentahydrate salt and is stable at room temperature for 24 hours or for 7 days at 4°C following reconstitution.

Figure 1 Chemical structure of ceftazidime.

The chemical structure of avibactam is trans-7-oxo-6-(sulfoxy)-1,6-diazabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-2-carboxamide (molecular formula, C₇H₁₀ N₃O₆S; molecular mass, 265.25 g/mol) (Figure 2).⁹ Avibactam is not a β-lactam; however, it closely resembles β-lactams in key areas. The carbonyl at position 7 of avibactam mimics the β-lactam carbonyl of a cephalosporin such as ceftazidime. Similarly, the sulfate at position 6 of avibactam resembles the carboxyl group at ceftazidime position 4, and the carboxamide at position 2 of avibactam aligns with the aminoacyl side-chain of ceftazidime at position 7. The sulfate group is the only ionizable moiety on avibactam. Avibactam is semisynthetic and is produced via a nine-step enantio-selective process.^9,20 Avibactam is synthesized as a sodium salt that is water soluble and stable in aqueous solution at room temperature.²¹ Avibactam has been dosed in humans at a ratio of 1:4 in combination with ceftazidime.

Figure 2 Chemical structure of avibactam.

Microbiology

The in vitro activity of ceftazidime–avibactam has been evaluated against a wide range of organisms in numerous settings.^22–34 Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)₅₀, MIC₉₀, and MIC ranges for Gram-negative pathogens are presented in Table 1. The most common method of testing has been broth microdilution with 4 μg/mL fixed concentration of avibactam and varying, often doubling dilution, concentrations of ceftazidime.^{22,26–30,35,36} Among Gram-negative organisms, MIC₅₀ and MIC₉₀ values are low for all Enterobacteriaceae, including most ceftazidime-resistant isolates (Table 1). Assuming a breakpoint of 4 μg/mL (the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute [CLSI] Enterobacteriaceae breakpoint for ceftazidime), nearly all isolates of Enterobacteriaceae would be considered susceptible. Ceftazidime–avibactam is highly active against Haemophilus spp., Moraxella spp., and Neisseria spp., but offers no significant improvement over ceftazidime alone (Lagacé-Wiens P, unpublished data, 2012). This is not surprising, given the lack of β-lactamases active against ceftazidime in these organisms. Although ceftazidime resistance in these species is extremely rare at this time, it is mediated by alterations in penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) and avibactam is not expected to offer significant improvement in MIC₅₀ and MIC₉₀ values for these resistant isolates. The activity of ceftazidime–avibactam against the nonfermenting Gram-negative rods is variable.^28,30,32 Ceftazidime’s MIC₅₀ and MIC₉₀ are reduced for P. aeruginosa by the addition of avibactam, ostensibly due to the inactivation of the AmpC (class C) β-lactamases present in these isolates; however, the available data suggest that avibactam does not restore the activity of ceftazidime against P. aeruginosa as reliably as it does for Enterobacteriaceae, likely due to the presence of additional mechanisms of resistance (porin alterations, efflux, metallo-β-lactamases, or OXA β-lactamases).²⁹ The activity of ceftazidime–avibactam against Acinetobacter baumannii is no better than that of ceftazidime alone.^28,30 This is likely due to the common presence of OXA β-lactamases that are not inhibited by avibactam in Acinetobacter spp.. Avibactam does not appreciably reduce the MIC of ceftazidime for Burkholderia cepacia.^28,30 Although the exact reason for the lack of synergism between ceftazidime and avibactam for B. cepacia remains unclear, it is likely that non-β-lactamase-mediated resistance to cephalosporins, in the form of reduced permeability (outer membrane porin alterations), efflux pumps, and altered PBPs, plays a greater role than beta-lactamases in the development of cephalosporin-resistance in this species.³⁷ Ceftazidime–avibactam is not active against Stenotrophomonas spp. (Lagacé-Wiens P, unpublished data, 2012), due to the universal presence of metallo-β-lactamases in these species.

Table 1 MIC50, MIC90, MIC range, and percent susceptible for ceftazidime–avibactam, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, and cefepime against Gram-negative aerobic and facultative pathogens22,23,25,26,28–30,32–35 Notes: MICs were measured in μg/mL. Susceptibility rates for ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, and cefepime were determined by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) breakpoints (M100). Susceptibility breakpoints for ceftazidime were applied to ceftazidime–avibactam. Abbreviations: %S, percent of isolates susceptible to antimicrobial agents; ESBL, extended-spectrum β-lactamase; KPC, Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase; MIC, minimum inhibitory concentration; MIC50, MIC that inhibits 50% of isolates; MIC90, MIC that inhibits 90% of isolates; N/A, not available.

Among Gram-negative anaerobes, ceftazidime–avibactam has limited activity (Table 2). MICs are noted to be elevated for most Bacteroides spp., and the combination would not be expected to be clinically effective.^27,38 Avibactam does, however, reduce the MIC of ceftazidime for Prevotella and Porphyromonas spp., and may be clinically effective where these pathogens are likely to be encountered.^27,38

Table 2 Activity of ceftazidime–avibactam and comparators against select Gram-negative strict anaerobic bacteria27,32,38 Note: MICs were measured in μg/mL. Abbreviations: MIC, minimum inhibitory concentration; MIC50, MIC that inhibits 50% of isolates; MIC90, MIC that inhibits 90% of isolates; N/A, not available.

Mechanism of action

The mechanism of action of ceftazidime is well established and has been described elsewhere.³⁹ Briefly, like all β-lactam antimicrobial agents, ceftazidime binds to a variety of PBPs. The binding affinity of various cephalosporins to the PBPs of Gram-negative organisms varies by cephalosporin, and the chemical structure of ceftazidime is such that it is primarily an inhibitor of PBP3 of Gram-negative bacteria, including P. aeruginosa. Binding of cephalosporins to PBPs results in the inhibition of cell wall synthesis. Ultimately, cell death occurs through mechanisms that are incompletely understood.

Avibactam is a non-β-lactam inhibitor of β-lactamases.⁴⁰ β-lactamases are a highly diverse group of enzymes, found in a wide variety of bacteria, which confer varying degrees of resistance to β-lactam antimicrobial agents.⁴¹ The spectrum of activity and mechanism of these enzymes vary by type and subtype, and a wide variety have been described.⁴¹ New β-lactamases are continuously being reported and there is a recognized phenomenon of evolution in these enzymes, often observed in response to the introduction of new antimicrobial agents. Several β-lactamase classification schemes have been described, but the most commonly used are the Ambler molecular scheme, based on the amino acid and subsequent structural similarity between enzymes and the Bush–Jacoby–Medeiros classification, based on the functionality or activity of the enzymes on different β-lactam antimicrobial agents.⁴¹ Since the molecular structure of the β-lactamases is the primary determinant of inhibitor activity, the Ambler classification will be the focus of this discussion.

In the Ambler molecular classification, β-lactamases are separated into four groups, A through D (Table 3).⁴¹ Class A enzymes are the most common and include the extended and narrow spectrum TEM and SHV enzymes frequently found in Enterobacteriaceae as well as the CTX-M extended spectrum β-lactamases now commonly found in E. coli and Klebsiella spp..⁴¹This group also includes a variety of carbapenemases, including KPCs and SMEs.⁴² With the exception of the uncommon inhibitor-resistant TEM (IRT) and complex mutant TEM (CMT) enzymes, all class A enzymes are inhibited in varying degrees by the currently available β-lactamase inhibitors clavulanate, sulbactam, and tazobactam.⁴³ Class B enzymes are metallo-β-lactamases that rely on a zinc cofactor and are not inhibited by any commercially available therapeutic inhibitors.⁴² Common examples include the VIM, IMP, and NDM carbapenemases.⁴² Class C enzymes are those structurally related to the chromosomal AmpC β-lactamase of E. coli, which is known to be present and inducible in Enterobacter spp, Citrobacter spp., Serratia spp., P. aeruginosa, and other Enterobacteriaceae.⁴⁴ Although AmpC is chromosomal, a number of plasmid-associated variants have been described, most notably the CMY enzyme.⁴⁴ Induction, derepression, and hyperproduction of chromosomal AmpC and production of plasmid variants such as CMY typically confer clinically relevant resistance to all penicillins and cephems, although the actual MIC varies depending on the relative production of the enzyme and the cephalosporin side-chains.⁴⁴ Some cephalosporins, such as cefepime, are relatively stable to AmpC hydrolysis.⁴⁵ Currently available therapeutic inhibitors are minimally active against this class of enzyme.⁴⁰ Class D enzymes are very diverse and are frequently referred to as oxacillinases due to their preferential hydrolysis of oxacillin over penicillin.⁴¹ Their spectrum is highly variable and may be limited to oxacillin or extended to include all classes of β-lactams.

Table 3 Ambler classification of β-lactamases41

Avibactam inactivates susceptible β-lactamases by covalent acylation of the β-lactamase active-site serine residue.^46,47 More recently, it has been demonstrated that the binding is partially reversible, as deacylation slowly follows initial acylation with subsequent recyclization of avibactam’s five-membered urea ring.⁴⁷ Since avibactam’s ring is recyclized after deacylation rather than hydrolyzed, its activity is fully restored. This differs from other clinically available β-lactamase inhibitors, since these form irreversible acyl-enzyme intermediates that decompose through hydrolysis.⁴⁰ In vitro, avibactam inhibits the activity of Ambler class A (eg, ESBL and KPC), class C (eg, AmpC), and some class D (eg, OXA-48) enzymes.^22,23,40,48 It is not active against metallo-β-lactamases (eg, NDM, VIM, IMP, VEB, PER) due to the absence of the active-site serine residue or against Acinetobacter OXA-type carbapenemases.^46,48

The half-minimal inhibitory concentration for avibactam against a variety of β-lactamases has been studied and compared to other commercially available β-lactamase inhibitors.^46,47 These studies confirm that avibactam has inhibitory activity against common Class A (SHV, TEM, CTX-M, KPC) enzymes, comparable to or better than clavulanate and tazobactam. Further, avibactam adds Class C (AmpC, FOX, CMY-2, AAC-1) enzymes to its inhibition spectrum. Of note, avibactam has potent inhibitory activity against KPC enzymes that is substantially greater than clavulanate and tazobactam.²³ The turnover value (the number of molecules required to inhibit a single enzyme) for avibactam has consistently been shown to be 1, which supports a potency 10 to >100 times that of currently available therapeutic inhibitors.⁴⁰

Mechanism of resistance

The most common mechanism of resistance to ceftazidime–avibactam is the presence or acquisition of a β-lactamase that is unhindered by avibactam. All class B (metallo-)β-lactamases are uninhibited by avibactam, and the majority of OXA enzymes are also unaffected by the addition of the drug.⁴⁶ Given the widespread dissemination of such enzymes on plasmids present in Enterobacteriaceae,⁴² these enzymes and their spread remain the primary threat to the clinical use of ceftazidime–avibactam. Although enzymes such as SPM, GIM, and SIM have remained relatively isolated, there are increasing reports of the global emergence of plasmid-associated VIM, IMP, and NDM carbapenemases that are invariably active against ceftazidime–avibactam.⁴²

Limited studies are available on the selection of resistance to avibactam in combination with cephalosporins, and none specific to ceftazidime have been published. In one experiment, resistant isolates were selected in vitro at a rate less than 10^-9 among Enterobacteriaceae with preexisting resistance mechanisms to ceftazidime alone.⁴⁹ In one instance, a CTX-M-15 enzyme acquired a Lys237Gln mutation, resulting in resistance to ceftaroline–avibactam, and, in another, AmpC-hyperproducing isolates of Enterobacter cloacae developed an Asn366His mutation of the AmpC enzyme, resulting in resistance to ceftaroline–avibactam.⁴⁹ These experiments clearly confirm that point mutations in existing β-lactamases can result in the selection of resistant mutants, ostensibly the result of reduced β-lactamase affinity to avibactam. It is by this manner that diverse β-lactamases have evolved in response to the introduction of novel β-lactam antibiotics and inhibitors and the development of such novel enzymes with the introduction of avibactam combinations is virtually assured.

Gram-negative organisms may be resistant to cephalosporins by virtue of mechanisms other than β-lactamases. Examples include reduced permeability due to porin alterations and efflux mechanisms.⁵⁰ Such mechanisms are not affected by avibactam, and organisms resistant to β-lactams only by these mechanisms remain resistant despite the addition of avibactam. Frequently, however, such organisms harbor multiple mechanisms of resistance to cephalosporins, including β-lactamases, in which case avibactam may still be effective in partially restoring ceftazidime susceptibility.

Pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ceftazidime have been extensively reviewed elsewhere and will not be discussed here.⁵¹ At present, most of the data describing the pharmacokinetics of avibactam are available only in abstract form. The pharmacokinetic parameters of avibactam following a single intravenous dose in healthy adult volunteers are presented in Table 4.^52,53 Peak plasma concentrations of avibactam have been found to increase in direct proportion to increases in the dose.⁵² In healthy adults, avibactam has a volume of distribution of 20 to 24 L, a terminal half-life of 1.5 to 2.7 hours, and an average clearance of 10.4 to 13.8 L/hour.^52,53 The protein binding of avibactam is reported to be 8%.²⁵ Elimination of avibactam is predominantly by renal excretion of unchanged drug.⁵² The pharmacokinetics of avibactam were not statistically altered by coadministration with ceftazidime.⁵² No accumulation of avibactam was apparent following multiple doses administered to healthy adults every 8 hours.⁵⁴ Only marginal differences in pharmacokinetic parameters have been observed based on age and sex.^53,55 Dosage adjustment on the basis of age or sex is not required.^53,55 Clearance and central volume of distribution were found to increase by 62% and 202%, respectively, in patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections.⁵⁶ The clinical importance of this observation, if any, is not clear. Epithelial lining fluid concentrations of avibactam were evaluated by Nicolau et al in 43 healthy adult males.⁵⁷ The maximum concentration and area under the concentration–time curve of avibactam in epithelial lining fluid was 28% to 35% and 32% to 35% of the corresponding values for plasma, respectively.⁵⁸ Further, pulmonary surfactant has not been observed to adversely affect the in vitro activity of ceftazidime–avibactam.⁵⁸ These observations support a potential role for ceftazidime–avibactam in the treatment of pneumonia.

Table 4 Pharmacokinetic parameters for avibactam administered alone and in combination with ceftazidime Note: All values expressed represent the mean with the percent (%) coefficient of variation52 or standard deviation53 in parentheses. Abbreviations: AUC, area under the curve; Cl, confidence interval; Cmax, maximum concentration; ND, no data; T1/2, half life; VSS, volume of distribution; IV, intravenous.

The pharmacokinetics of avibactam have further been evaluated in 24 patients with renal impairment.⁵⁹ As expected, clearance of avibactam declined with declining renal function. The average clearance was 5.8±1.6 L/hour, 3.8±0.6 L/hour, and 2.2±0.9 L/hour in patients with mild (creatinine clearance [CrCl] of 50 to 79 mL/minute), moderate (CrCl of 30 to 49 mL/minute), and severe (CrCl of <30 mL/minute) renal impairment versus 14.6±1 1.2 L/hour in healthy controls. The corresponding clearance in anuric patients on hemodialysis was 1.0±0.8 L/hour. Avibactam clearance during hemodialysis was 9.3±0.1 L/hour. Dosage adjustment of avibactam is required in renal impairment, and avibactam should be administered after the completion of hemodialysis on dialysis days.⁵⁹

The pharmacodynamics of avibactam in combination with ceftazidime have been described in several abstracts. Levasseur et al demonstrated inhibition of growth (static effect) of an AmpC-producing E. cloacae isolate and a KPC-producing K. pneumoniae isolate with a continuous infusion of ≥0.1 μg/mL avibactam in combination with simulated serum concentrations of ceftazidime.⁶⁰ Noel et al evaluated the antibacterial effect of a continuous infusion of avibactam at different concentrations in combination with simulated serum concentrations of ceftazidime (2 g intravenously every 8 hours) using a dilutional, single-compartment pharmacokinetic model.⁶¹ Three strains of Enterobacteriaceae were evaluated: a CTX-M-15 producing E. coli, an AmpC producing E. cloacae, and a KPC producing K. pneumoniae. Maximum killing by ceftazidime at 24 hours as determined by the area under the bacterial kill curve was observed with an avibactam continuous infusion of ≥2 μg/mL for the CTX-M and AmpC producers and ≥2 to 4 μg/mL for the KPC producer. Avibactam dosing of 500 mg intravenously every 8 hours would be expected to achieve the equivalent desired exposure in humans. Similarly, Bowker et al evaluated simulated serum concentrations of ceftazidime (2 g intravenously every 8 hours) in combination with a continuous infusion of avibactam at different concentrations.⁶² A single-compartment dilutional pharmacokinetic in vitro model was used and an AmpC-producing E. cloacae isolate was the target pathogen. These investigators reported a ≥2 log reduction in bacterial counts at 48 hours with ceftazidime combined with avibactam infused at a concentration of 4 μg/mL.⁶² In humans, serum bactericidal activity of ceftazidime versus a ceftazidime-resistant K. pneumoniae isolate (ceftazidime MIC of 32 μg/mL) has been observed for up to 8 hours following infusion of 1 g ceftazidime with 250 mg avibactam, and for up to 12 hours following infusion of 2 g ceftazidime with 500 mg avibactam.⁵²

Animal models of Gram-negative bacterial infection

Ceftazidime combined with avibactam has demonstrated efficacy in several animal models of infection due to ceftazidime-non-susceptible Gram-negative bacteria.^25,63–67 As with the previous pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic data, most of the studies described here are available only in abstract form. The combination of ceftazidime and avibactam has been evaluated by Endimiani et al in murine models of septicemia and thigh infection.⁶⁵ These investigators assessed the efficacy of ceftazidime–avibactam versus two KPC-producing K. pneumoniae strains, both of which demonstrated an MIC to ceftazidime alone of ≥256 μg/mL. In the murine lethal septicemia model, treatment with a single subcutaneous dose of ceftazidime–avibactam in a ratio of 4:1 reduced the median effective ceftazidime dose for 50% of animals (ED₅₀) from 1,578 mg/kg (first isolate) and 709 mg/kg (second isolate) to 15.1 mg/kg and 3.8 mg/kg, respectively. Survival of test animals in this model approached 100% for ceftazidime–avibactam (ratio of 4:1) at a dose of 32/8 mg/kg. This contrasted with a survival of 0% for test animals treated only with ceftazidime at a dose of up to 256 mg/kg. In the neutropenic thigh infection model, mice treated with ceftazidime–avibactam at doses of ≥128/32 mg/kg demonstrated a >2 log₁₀ colony forming units (CFU) reduction in thighs removed 24 hours post-infection. In contrast, ceftazidime alone was unable to reduce the numbers of CFUs at doses of ≥1,024 mg/kg.⁶⁵ Similarly, Levasseur et al evaluated ceftazidime–avibactam in a murine septicemia model with extended spectrum and AmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates as the challenge organisms (ceftazidime MIC of 32 μg/mL to >128 μg/mL).⁶⁴ Ceftazidime–avibactam was administered in a 4:1 weight ratio. The ED₅₀ for ceftazidime–avibactam ranged from 2 to 27 mg/kg depending on the test strain, in contrast to >60 mg/kg for ceftazidime alone.⁶⁴

Merdjan et al studied ceftazidime–avibactam in a murine pneumonia model.⁶³ Pneumonia was induced by intratracheal inoculation of an AmpC- and SHV-11-producing K. pneumoniae isolate. Ceftazidime–avibactam was administered at a dose of 150/37.5 mg/kg every 8 hours subcutaneously starting 16 hours post-infection for a duration of 2 days. At 48 hours post-treatment, mean lung bacterial counts in untreated mice were 11 log₁₀ CFU. Mean lung bacterial counts were reduced to 7.9 log₁₀ CFU with ceftazidime monotherapy and 4.5 log₁₀ CFU with ceftazidime in combination with avibactam.⁶³ Borgonovi et al assessed ceftazidime in combination with avibactam in an immunosuppressed mouse model of kidney infection caused by AmpC- or ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates.⁶⁷ The ceftazidime MIC of the test organisms ranged from 16 to >128 μg/mL. At a dose range of 10 to 25 mg/kg administered subcutaneously 4, 8, 24, and 32 hours post-infection, ceftazidime–avibactam (ratio of 4:1) reduced the kidney bacterial burden at 48 hours by 2.6 to 4.5 log₁₀ CFU compared with ceftazidime alone (P<0.05).⁶⁷

Ceftazidime in combination with avibactam has been evaluated by Cottagnoud et al in a rabbit meningitis model.⁶⁸ Rabbits were inoculated intracisternally with an AmpC-producing K. pneumoniae isolate that had an MIC for ceftazidime of >128 μg/mL. Eight hours post-infection, the animals were treated with ceftazidime 150 mg/kg intravenously (alone or in combination with 37.5 mg/kg avibactam) or meropenem 125 mg/kg intravenously. Ceftazidime monotherapy was unable to reduce the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) bacterial load. In contrast, over a time period of 8 hours, treatment with meropenem reduced the CSF bacterial load by a mean of 4.23 log₁₀ CFU, while ceftazidime combined with avibactam reduced the bacterial load by a mean of 5.66 log₁₀ CFU. The mean CSF penetration of avibactam in rabbits was 38%.⁶⁶

Finally, Crandon et al evaluated ceftazidime in combination with avibactam versus P. aeruginosa in a neutropenic and immunocompetent murine thigh infection model.²⁵ A free ceftazidime–avibactam drug concentration-time profile simulating that seen in humans with a ceftazidime dose of 2 g intravenously every 8 hours and an avibactam dose of 500 mg intravenously every 8 hours was assessed. In the neutropenic mouse studies, human-simulated doses of ceftazidime–avibactam resulted in a reduction in thigh bacterial density of ≥0.5 log₁₀ CFU for 22 of 27 isolates (16/17 isolates with a ceftazidime–avibactam MIC of ≤8 μg/mL and 5/8 isolates with a ceftazidime–avibactam MIC of 16 μg/mL) in contrast to 10 of 27 isolates for ceftazidime alone. In immunocompetent animals, ceftazidime–avibactam demonstrated efficacy versus all isolates, with a range in thigh bacterial reduction of 0.3 to 1.95 log₁₀ CFU. In contrast, ceftazidime alone resulted in a reduction in bacterial density of ≥0.3 log₁₀ CFU for only 10 of 15 isolates.²⁵

In summary, ceftazidime in combination with avibactam has demonstrated significant bacterial killing/efficacy in a number of animal models of infection. These have included murine models of sepsis, thigh infection, pneumonia, and kidney infection, and a rabbit model of meningitis due to ceftazidime-non-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae isolates. Further, ceftazidime–avibactam displayed significantly improved bacterial killing over ceftazidime alone in a murine thigh model of infection with P. aeruginosa. These data support a potential role for the combination of ceftazidime and avibactam in the treatment of infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria in general, and ceftazidime-non-susceptible pathogens in particular.

Clinical trial data

To date, there have only been two published clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of ceftazidime in combination with avibactam for infections caused, in whole or in part, by Gram-negative bacilli (Table 5).^24,68 Lucasti et al performed a Phase II prospective, randomized, double-blind trial evaluating ceftazidime–avibactam and metronidazole versus meropenem for the treatment of adults with complicated intra-abdominal infections.²⁴ Briefly, adult patients with evidence of a complicated intra-abdominal infection requiring both surgical intervention and antimicrobial therapy were eligible for inclusion. Patients with infections caused by pathogens known to be resistant to the study agents were excluded. The primary study outcome was the clinical response in the microbiologically evaluable population 2 weeks following the last dose of study medication (test-of-cure visit). In total, 203 patients were enrolled into the trial. The most common sites of infection were appendix (47%) and stomach/duodenum (26%), and the majority of patients (83%) had an Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE)²⁴ II score of ≤10. Polymicrobial infection was present in 38% of patients. One hundred fifty-three aerobic/facultative Gram-negative pathogens were recovered, with E. coli being the most frequent (69% [105/153]). The major results of this study are summarized in Table 5. For the primary study end point, a favorable clinical response in the microbiologically evaluable population was observed in 91.2% of patients (62/68) treated with ceftazidime–avibactam plus metronidazole versus 93.4% of patients (71/76) treated with meropenem (observed difference of -0.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -17.1% to 15.4%). A favorable microbiological response was observed in 96.2% of patients (25/26) treated with ceftazidime–avibactam who were infected with a ceftazidime-intermediate or -resistant Gram-negative isolate at baseline.²⁴

Table 5 Phase II clinical trials evaluating ceftazidime in combination with avibactam for Gram-negative bacterial infections Abbreviations: CE, clinically evaluable; IV, intravenously; ME, microbiologically evaluable; mMITT, microbiologically modified intent to treat; q6h, every 6 hours; q8h, every 8 hours.

Vazquez et al conducted a Phase II prospective, randomized, double-blind trial evaluating ceftazidime–avibactam versus imipenem for the treatment of adults with complicated urinary tract infections due to Gram-negative bacteria.⁶⁸ Adult patients with either acute pyelonephritis or another complicated urinary tract infection caused by a Gram-negative pathogen were eligible for inclusion. Patients with an infection caused by a uropathogen resistant to one or both study drugs were excluded. The primary study outcome was a favorable microbiological response 5 to 9 days after the last dose of therapy (test-of-cure visit) in the microbiologically evaluable population. In total, 137 patients were randomized to receive therapy. Acute pyelonephritis was the primary diagnosis in 62% of trial participants. In the microbiologically evaluable population, E. coli was the uropathogen in 93.5% of participants (58/62). The major results of the study are summarized in Table 5. For the primary study end point, a favorably microbiological response was found in 70.4% (19/27) of patients treated with ceftazidime–avibactam in comparison with 71.4% (25/35) treated with imipenem (difference of -1.1%, 95% CI: -27.2% to 25%). Among patients with a ceftazidime-resistant uropathogen, a favorable microbiological response was observed at the test-of-cure visit in 85.7% (6/7) of those who were treated with ceftazidime–avibactam.⁶⁸

There are several important limitations to the above trials. Most importantly, both trials included a relatively small number of participants. As these were Phase II trials, neither was statistically powered to demonstrate noninferiority. As a consequence of the small sample sizes, the range of bacterial pathogens recovered in these studies was relatively limited. E. coli accounted for the majority of facultative Gram-negative isolates in both of the studies. Klebsiella spp. were infrequently recovered in the intra-abdominal infection study and not recovered at all in the urinary infection study. Further, while ceftazidime non-susceptible isolates were recovered in both studies, no details were provided regarding specific mechanisms of resistance (eg, ESBL production, AmpC production, KPC production, other). While the results of these studies are encouraging and appear to support a role for ceftazidime–avibactam in the treatment of Gram-negative infections, further data from Phase III trials are required.

Safety

There are limited safety data available on the use of ceftazidime–avibactam in humans. In Phase I studies as well as the two published, Phase II clinical trials, the combination of ceftazidime and avibactam was generally well tolerated.^24,52,53,68 Adverse events were observed in 64.4% of patients receiving ceftazidime–avibactam plus metronidazole versus 57.8% of those receiving meropenem in the intra-abdominal infection study carried out by Lucasti et al.²⁴ In this trial, the most common adverse events reported among patients receiving ceftazidime–avibactam plus metronidazole were nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, pyrexia, and elevations in liver enzymes. Most of these adverse events were mild to moderate in severity and it is quite possible that some may have been related to the underlying medical condition being treated or metronidazole (particularly the gastrointestinal adverse events). One serious case of elevated liver enzymes in the ceftazidime–avibactam plus metronidazole arm was considered to be medication related.²⁴ In the Phase II urinary infection trial by Vazquez et al, adverse events were observed in 67.6% of patients receiving ceftazidime–avibactam versus 76.1% of those receiving imipenem–cilastatin.⁶⁸ The most common adverse events reported among those receiving ceftazidime–avibactam were headache, gastrointestinal symptoms, and injection-/infusion-site reactions. Two serious adverse events considered to be drug related occurred among patients receiving ceftazidime–avibactam: a case of renal failure and a case of significant diarrhea.⁶⁸

The effect of ceftazidime–avibactam administered in supratherapeutic doses on cardiac repolarization has been assessed by Edeki et al.⁶⁹ These investigators performed a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled four-way crossover study in healthy males. Subjects were administered ceftazidime–avibactam at a dose of 3,000/2,000 mg, infused over 30 minutes. Electrocardiogram readings were obtained at various time points between 30 minutes and 12 hours after the infusion. Comparing ceftazidime–avibactam with placebo, there was no significant change from baseline in the Fridericia-corrected QT interval.⁶⁹

To summarize, while the data available to date have not demonstrated significant safety concerns for the combination of ceftazidime and avibactam, assessment of safety is significantly limited by the small number of human subjects in whom this combination has been administered. An accurate safety assessment will require review of data from Phase III clinical trials and, if marketed, postmarketing surveillance. It should be noted that all of the adverse events associated with ceftazidime monotherapy would be expected to occur with the administration of ceftazidime–avibactam. These have been extensively reviewed elsewhere and will not be described in detail here, but may include thrombophlebitis/injection-site reactions, gastrointestinal side effects, mild hematologic abnormalities (eg, eosinophilia), and transient elevation in liver enzymes.⁵¹

Conclusion

The addition of avibactam to ceftazidime improves its activity against Enterobacteriaceae and P. aeruginosa because avibactam inhibits isolates with serine β-lactamases, including ESBL, AmpC, and KPC enzymes. However, avibactam does not improve the activity of ceftazidime against Acinetobacter spp., Burkholderia spp., or most anaerobic Gram-negative rods. Pharmacodynamic data indicate that ceftazidime–avibactam is bactericidal at concentrations achievable in human serum. Animal studies demonstrate that ceftazidime–avibactam is effective in ceftazidime-resistant Gram-negative septicemia, meningitis, pyelonephritis, and pneumonia. The limited clinical trials published to date have reported that ceftazidime–avibactam is as effective as therapy with a carbapenem in complicated urinary tract infection and complicated intra-abdominal infection (combined with metronidazole), including infection caused by cephalosporin-resistant Gram-negative isolates. Safety and tolerability of ceftazidime–avibactam in clinical trials has been excellent, with few serious drug-related adverse events reported; published data suggest that no additional considerations need to be taken when dosing ceftazidime–avibactam compared to ceftazidime alone. Given the abundant clinical experience with ceftazidime and the significant improvement that avibactam provides in its activity against contemporary β-lactamase-producing Gram-negative pathogens, it is likely this new combination agent will play a role in the empiric monotherapy of complicated urinary tract infection caused or suspected to be caused by antimicrobial-resistant pathogens (eg, ESBL-, AmpC-, or KPC-producing Enterobacteriaceae and multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa), and in combination with metronidazole for polymicrobial intra-abdominal infections. Ceftazidime–avibactam may also represent salvage therapy after treatment failure with a third-generation cephalosporin or for documented infections due to Gram-negative bacilli producing ESBL, KPC, and/or AmpC enzymes. In addition, because of its increased activity versus P. aeruginosa, it may prove useful in the treatment of suspected and documented P. aeruginosa infections. Potential future uses may include hospital-acquired pneumonia (in combination with antistaphylococcal and anti-pneumococcal agents) or treatment of skin and soft tissue infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant Gram-negative pathogens (eg, diabetic foot infections), but further clinical trials are required.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

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