1573 - Daptomycin Resistant Enterococcus faecium: Combination Therapy Screening

Background: Enterococcus faecium infections are difficult to treat and there is a growing concern regarding the rising occurrence of daptomycin resistance. We have previously demonstrated that only daptomycin plus ampicillin combination was effective against DAP-R E. faecium R497. The efficacy and systematic screening DAP plus β-lactams and DAP plus other combinations against daptomycin-resistant strains of E. faecium has not been investigated. Here, we evaluated 40 selected single, dual and triple combinations of antibacterial regimens against two clinical isolates of DAP-R E. faecium (R497 and R496 (with daptomycin MIC of 16 and 32 µg/ml, respectively).

Methods:  E.faecium R497 and R496 were tested against an array of antibacterial agents including daptomycin, tigecycline, linezolid, ertapenem, ceftaroline and ceftriaxone using MIC susceptibility tests and 24h time-kill curves (TKC). All susceptibility tests and TKCs were performed in MHB broth containing 50 mg/L calcium. TKCs were performed at half MIC or free peak concentration of each antibacterial (whichever was lower). Synergy was defined as >2 log₁₀ CFU/ml decrease compared to the most potent antibacterial agent.
 

Results: Susceptibility tests demonstrated resistance to all listed β-lactams for both organisms. TKCs demonstrated that combination of daptomycin-ertapenem, daptomycin-ceftriaxone and daptomycin-ceftaroline was not effective against R497. However, addition of ceftriaxone or linezolid to either daptomycin-ertapenem or daptomycin-ceftaroline combinations resulted in synergy against this organism. Combinations of daptomycin-ertapenem and daptomycin-ceftaroline were synergistic against R496. Addition of linezolid, ceftriaxone or tigecycline to either daptomycin-ceftaroline or daptomycin-ertapenem combination did not increase killing activity against R496.

Conclusion: Differential affinity of β-lactams to specific PBP isotypes seems to be a key parameter for the success of daptomycin- β-lactam combinations against multi-drug resistant E. faecium . The optimized use of double β-lactam therapy in addition to daptomycin can potentially lead to improved patient outcomes and preserving antibiotic therapy for serious enterococcus infections.