Activity of Cefiderocol and Comparators against Isolates from Cancer Patients

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Gram-negative bacterial infections pose a significant threat to cancer patients.
• The rise of antimicrobial resistance, particularly in Gram-negative bacilli, complicates treatment options.
• Novel antibiotics are crucial for combating infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the in vitro activity of cefiderocol against Gram-negative isolates from cancer patients.
• To compare cefiderocol's efficacy with other antibiotics against challenging pathogens.
• To assess the resistance patterns associated with cefiderocol and comparator agents.

Main Methods:

• Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on 478 Gram-negative bacterial isolates.
• Isolates were sourced from cancer patients.
• Cefiderocol's activity was compared against amikacin, ceftazidime-avibactam, meropenem, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.

Main Results:

• Cefiderocol inhibited 97.5% of isolates at ≤4 mg/liter.
• It exhibited potent activity against extended-spectrum β-lactamase-positive Enterobacteriaceae, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), and nonfermenting Gram-negative bacilli.
• Cefiderocol showed superior activity against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia compared to other agents.

Conclusions:

• Cefiderocol is a promising therapeutic option for Gram-negative infections in cancer patients.
• It demonstrates broad-spectrum activity, including against multidrug-resistant strains.
• Cefiderocol was associated with the lowest level of resistance among the tested antibiotics.