Combinations of avibactam and carbapenems exhibit enhanced potencies against drug-resistant Mycobacterium abscessus.
The objective of this study was to assess if avibactam, a new β-lactamase inhibitor, can restore the potency of carbapenems, a sub-class of β-lactams, against Mycobacterium abscessus clinical isolates.



28 M. abscessus clinical isolates that are resistant to multiple drugs currently used to treat its infection were included. MIC of carbapenems alone and in combination with avibactam against these strains were determined.



Tebipenem, an oral carbapenem, and ertapenem and panipenem exhibited the greatest shift in MIC when supplemented with avibactam.



Avibactam restores MICs of tebipenem, ertapenem and panipenem against M. abscessus to therapeutically achievable concentrations and raises the possibility of usefulness of these carbapenems to treat drug-resistant M. abscessus infections.
Center for Tuberculosis Research, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA.
Amit
A
Kaushik
Center for Tuberculosis Research, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA.
Chhavi
C
Gupta
Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Stefanie
S
Fisher
Center for Tuberculosis Research, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA.
Elizabeth
E
Story-Roller
Center for Tuberculosis Research, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA.
Christos
C
Galanis
Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.|Taskforce to study Resistance Emergence & Antimicrobial development Technology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA.
Nicole
N
Parrish
Center for Tuberculosis Research, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA.|Taskforce to study Resistance Emergence & Antimicrobial development Technology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA.
Gyanu
G
Lamichhane
D053961:Azabicyclo Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015780:Carbapenems / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D000077727:Ertapenem; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000382:microbiology; D000073358:Mycobacterium abscessus / Q000187:drug effects*; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000494:pharmacology; D065093:beta-Lactamase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000494:pharmacology
D053961:Azabicyclo Compounds; D015780:Carbapenems; D013845:Thienamycins; D065093:beta-Lactamase Inhibitors; D047090:beta-Lactams; C543519:avibactam; D000077727:Ertapenem; C500135:tebipenem; C039536:panipenem
Mycobacterium abscessus; avibactam; carbapenem; ertapenem; panipenem; tebipenem