In vitro time-kill analysis of oritavancin against clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with reduced susceptibility to daptomycin

Role or oritavancin and dalbavancin in acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections and other potential indications

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To discuss the currently available evidence about the use oritavancin and dalbavancin for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) and for other potential indications.

RECENT FINDINGS

In this review, we briefly summarize the available data on efficacy (from randomized controlled trials) and on effectiveness and cure rates (from observational studies) pertaining to the use of oritavancin and dalbavancin either for ABSSSI or for other indications.

SUMMARY

Oritavancin and dalbavancin are valid options for outpatient therapy and early discharge in patients with ABSSSI, especially when adherence to oral therapy cannot be guaranteed or no oral choices are available. Furthermore, it is worth noting that a non-negligible portion (sometimes the majority) of oritavancin and dalbavancin use in available real-life experiences is for indications other than ABSSSI, especially for Gram-positive osteomyelitis and endocarditis. The number of studies on the use of long-acting lipoglycopeptides for these currently off-label indications is rapidly increasing and will help to further optimize the use of these peculiar antibiotics in the forthcoming future.

In vitro anti-bacterial and time kill evaluation of binuclear tricyclohexylphosphanesilver(I) dithiocarbamates, {Cy3PAg(S2CNRR')}2

Four binuclear phosphanesilver(I) dithiocarbamates, {cyclohexyl₃PAg(S₂CNRR')}₂ for R = R' = Et (1), CH₂CH₂ (2), CH₂CH₂OH (3) and R = Me, R' = CH₂CH₂OH (4) have been synthesised and characterised by spectroscopy and crystallography, and feature tri-connective, μ₂-bridging dithiocarbamate ligands and distorted tetrahedral geometries based on PS₃ donor sets. The compounds were evaluated for anti-bacterial activity against a total of 12 clinically important pathogens. Based on minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and cell viability tests (human embryonic kidney cells, HEK 293), 1-4 are specifically active against Gram-positive bacteria while demonstrating low toxicity; 3 and 4 are active against methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Across the series, 4 was most effective and was more active than the standard anti-biotic chloramphenicol. Time kill assays reveal 1-4 to exhibit both time- and concentration-dependent pharmacokinetics against susceptible bacteria. Compound 4 demonstrates rapid (within 2 h) bactericidal activity at 1 and 2 × MIC to reach a maximum decrease of 5.2 log₁₀ CFU/mL against S. aureus (MRSA).

Dosing strategies to optimize currently available anti-MRSA treatment options (Part 1: IV options)

INTRODUCTION

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) continues to be a predominant pathogen resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Optimal dosing of anti-MRSA agents is needed to help prevent the development of antimicrobial resistance and to increase the likelihood of a favorable clinical outcome. Areas covered: This review summarizes the available data for antimicrobials routinely used for MRSA infections that are not administered orally or topically. We make recommendations and highlight the current gaps in the literature. A PubMed (1966 - Present) search was performed to identify relevant literature for this review. Expert commentary: Improvements in MIC determination and therapeutic drug monitoring are needed to fully implement individualized dosing that optimizes antimicrobial pharmacodynamics.Additional data will become available for these agents in regards to effectiveness for severe MRSA infections and pharmacokinetic data for special patient populations.

Oritavancin: a review in acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections

Oritavancin (Orbactiv(®)) is a new generation lipoglycopeptide approved for use in adult patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI). It is administered as a single 1200 mg intravenous infusion over 3 h. In phase 3 trials in adult patients with ABSSSI, oritavancin was noninferior to vancomycin in terms of a composite outcome (cessation of spreading or reduction in the size of the baseline lesion, absence of fever and no rescue antibacterials required; primary endpoint) assessed at an US FDA-recommended early timepoint of 48-72 h after initiation of treatment. Oritavancin was also noninferior to vancomycin in terms of a ≥20 % reduction in the baseline lesion size at the early timepoint and clinical cure rate 7-14 days after the end of treatment. Oritavancin was generally well tolerated in the phase 3 trials, with most treatment-emergent adverse reactions being mild in severity. The most common adverse events occurring in oritavancin recipients were nausea, headache, vomiting, limb and subcutaneous abscesses, and diarrhoea. Oritavancin offers a number of potential advantages, including a convenient single dose treatment that may shorten or eliminate hospital stays, a reduction in healthcare resource utilization and cost, no need for dosage adjustment in patients with mild to moderate hepatic or renal impairment, no need for therapeutic drug monitoring, and elimination of compliance concerns. Therefore, oritavancin is a useful treatment option for adults with ABSSSI.

Dalbavancin and Oritavancin: An Innovative Approach to the Treatment of Gram-Positive Infections

Health care-associated infections, especially those caused by multidrug-resistant gram-positive organisms, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), are a growing public health threat. In 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved two new lipoglycopeptides, oritavancin and dalbavancin, for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections. The rationale for the development of these antimicrobials was partly to aid in the battle against vancomycin resistance in both Staphylococcus and Enterococcus. Considered a subclass of the glycopeptide antibiotics, the new lipoglycopeptides have similar mechanisms of action of binding to the carboxyl terminal d-alanyl-d-alanine residue of the growing peptide chains but differ from their parent glycopeptides by the addition of lipophilic tails. This addition allows for these agents to have prolonged half-lives, giving them unique dosing profiles. In addition, by concentrating at the site of action, they have increased potency against MRSA compared with vancomycin, the current mainstay of therapy. In this review, we focus on comparing and contrasting these two new agents with regard to their pharmacology, mechanisms of action, spectrum of activity, safety profiles, dosage and administration, and drug and laboratory interactions, and we review the clinical trials evaluating their use.

Results from Oritavancin Resistance Surveillance Programs (2011 to 2014): Clarification for Using Vancomycin as a Surrogate To Infer Oritavancin Susceptibility

Measurement of vancomycin susceptibility has been shown to be highly predictive as a surrogate measure of oritavancin susceptibility among clinically indicated Gram-positive species. Results of studying over 30,000 pathogens (from 2011 to 2014) by cross-susceptibility analysis and determining the poor reproducibility of oritavancin-nonsusceptible results showed nearly perfect surrogate testing accuracy (99.86 to 99.94%). Any isolate of an indicated organism species with locally reproducible oritavancin-nonsusceptible results (extremely rare) should be referred to a reference laboratory for confirmation of the results and determination of the resistance mechanism.

Oritavancin Combinations with β-Lactams against Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci

Oritavancin possesses activity against vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA).In vitrodata suggest synergy between beta-lactams (BLs) and vancomycin or daptomycin, agents similar to oritavancin. We evaluated the activities of BLs combined with oritavancin against MRSA and VRE. Oritavancin MICs were determined for 30 strains, 5 each of MRSA, daptomycin-nonsusceptible (DNS) MRSA, vancomycin-intermediate MRSA (VISA), heteroresistant VISA (hVISA), vancomycin-resistantEnterococcus faecalis, and vancomycin-resistantEnterococcus faecium Oritavancin MICs were determined in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of BLs. Oritavancin combined with ceftaroline, cefazolin, or nafcillin was evaluated for lethal synergy against MRSA, and oritavancin combined with ceftaroline, ampicillin, or ertapenem was evaluated for lethal synergy against VRE in 24-h time-kill assays. Oritavancin at 0.5× the MIC was combined with BLs at 0.5× the MIC or the biological free peak concentration, whichever one was lower. Synergy was defined as a ≥2-log10-CFU/ml difference between the killing achieved with the combination and that achieved with the most active single agent at 24 h. Oritavancin MICs were ≤0.125 μg/ml for all MRSA isolates except three VISA isolates with MICs of 0.25 μg/ml. Oritavancin MICs for VRE ranged from 0.03 to 0.125 μg/ml. Oritavancin in combination with ceftaroline was synergistic against all MRSA phenotypes and statistically superior to all other combinations against DNS MRSA, hVISA, and MRSA isolates (P< 0.02). Oritavancin in combination with cefazolin and oritavancin in combination with nafcillin were also synergistic against all MRSA strains. Synergy between oritavancin and all BLs was revealed against VRE strain 8019, while synergy between oritavancin and ampicillin or ertapenem but not ceftaroline was demonstrated against VRE strain R7164. The data support the potential use of oritavancin in combination with BLs, especially oritavancin in combination with ceftaroline, for the treatment of infections caused by MRSA. The data from the present study are not as strong for oritavancin in combination with BLs for VRE. Further study of both MRSA and VRE in more complex models is warranted.

Oritavancin: A New Lipoglycopeptide Antibiotic in the Treatment of Gram-Positive Infections

Resistance among Gram-positive organisms has been steadily increasing over the last several years; however, the development of new antibiotics to treat infections caused from these organisms has fallen short of the emergent need. Specifically, resistance among Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus spp. to essential antibiotics is considered a major problem. Oritavancin is a semisynthetic lipoglycopeptide antibiotic that was recently approved for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI). While structurally related to vancomycin, oritavancin also possesses unique mechanisms of action that greatly enhance its antimicrobial potency against multi-drug resistant pathogens including both VanA- and VanB-mediated vancomycin-resistant enterococci. Owing to the addition of the highly hydrophobic tail group, oritavancin possesses a prolonged half-life ranging from 200-300 h. Although oritavancin is only currently Food and Drug Administration approved for ABSSSI, this agent may eventually play a role in additional indications where new innovative therapy is needed including bacteremia and deep-seeded, Gram-positive infections such as infective endocarditis or osteomyelitis. This review will focus on oritavancin's spectrum of activity, mechanisms of action and resistance, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, and the completed and ongoing clinical studies evaluating its use.

Use of in vitro vancomycin testing results to predict susceptibility to oritavancin, a new long-acting lipoglycopeptide

Oritavancin is a recently approved lipoglycopeptide antimicrobial agent with activity against Gram-positive pathogens. Its extended serum elimination half-life and concentration-dependent killing enable single-dose treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections. At the time of regulatory approval, new agents, including oritavancin, are not offered in the most widely used susceptibility testing devices and therefore may require application of surrogate testing using a related antimicrobial to infer susceptibility. To evaluate vancomycin as a predictive susceptibility marker for oritavancin, 26,993 recent Gram-positive organisms from U.S. and European hospitals were tested using reference MIC methods. Organisms included Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), beta-hemolytic streptococci (BHS), viridans group streptococci (VGS), and enterococci (ENT). These five major pathogen groups were analyzed by comparing results with FDA-approved susceptible breakpoints for both drugs, as well as those suggested by epidemiological cutoff values and supported by pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analyses. Vancomycin susceptibility was highly accurate (98.1 to 100.0%) as a surrogate for oritavancin susceptibility among the indicated pathogen species. Furthermore, direct MIC comparisons showed high oritavancin potencies, with vancomycin/oritavancin MIC90 results of 1/0.06, 2/0.06, 0.5/0.12,1/0.06, and >16/0.06 μg/ml for S. aureus, CoNS, BHS, VGS, and ENT, respectively. In conclusion, vancomycin demonstrated acceptable accuracy as a surrogate marker for predicting oritavancin susceptibility when tested against the indicated pathogens. In contrast, 93.3% of vancomycin-nonsusceptible enterococci had oritavancin MIC values of ≤0.12 μg/ml, indicating a poor predictive value of vancomycin for oritavancin resistance against these organisms. Until commercial oritavancin susceptibility testing devices are readily available, isolates that when tested show vancomycin susceptibility can be inferred to be susceptible to oritavancin by using FDA-approved breakpoints.

Novel rate-area-shape modeling approach to quantify bacterial killing and regrowth for in vitro static time-kill studies

In vitro static concentration time-kill (SCTK) studies are a cornerstone for antibiotic development and designing dosage regimens. However, mathematical approaches to efficiently model SCTK curves are scarce. The currently used model-free, descriptive metrics include the log10 change in CFU from 0 h to a defined time and the area under the viable count versus time curve. These metrics have significant limitations, as they do not characterize the rates of bacterial killing and regrowth and lack sensitivity. Our aims were to develop a novel rate-area-shape modeling approach and to compare, against model-free metrics, its relative ability to characterize the rate, extent, and timing of bacterial killing and regrowth from SCTK studies. The rate-area-shape model and the model-free metrics were applied to data for colistin and doripenem against six Acinetobacter baumannii strains. Both approaches identified exposure-response relationships from 0.5- to 64-fold the MIC. The model-based approach estimated an at least 10-fold faster killing by colistin than by doripenem at all multiples of the MIC. However, bacterial regrowth was more extensive (by 2 log10) and occurred approximately 3 h earlier for colistin than for doripenem. The model-free metrics could not consistently differentiate the rate and extent of killing between colistin and doripenem. The time to 2 log10 killing was substantially faster for colistin. The rate-area-shape model was successfully implemented in Excel. This new model provides an improved framework to distinguish between antibiotics with different rates of bacterial killing and regrowth and will enable researchers to better characterize SCTK experiments and design subsequent dynamic studies.

Potent synergy of ceftobiprole plus daptomycin against multiple strains of Staphylococcus aureus with various resistance phenotypes

OBJECTIVES

Ceftobiprole is a broad-spectrum cephalosporin that demonstrates activity against Staphylococcus aureus resistant to methicillin, including strains with reduced susceptibility to glycopeptides and lipopeptides. The addition of this agent provides a potential therapeutic option for difficult-to-treat infections. Synergy has been demonstrated between β-lactams combined with glycopeptides and lipopeptides against S. aureus. This study sought to determine whether ceftobiprole was synergistic with daptomycin, vancomycin or standard-of-care combination agents (gentamicin or rifampicin) against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains with varying degrees of vancomycin susceptibility.

METHODS

Broth microdilution MICs of ceftobiprole, daptomycin, vancomycin, rifampicin and gentamicin were evaluated for 20 MRSA isolates. Combination MICs were additionally evaluated in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of ceftobiprole to assess synergism. Time-kill curves for five representative isolates were performed utilizing combinations of ceftobiprole plus daptomycin, vancomycin, rifampicin and gentamicin to further quantify the degree of synergy for each regimen.

RESULTS

Ceftobiprole plus daptomycin represented the most potent combination with a 4-fold decrease in MIC and synergy against all strains evaluated in time-kill evaluations. Additionally, binding studies demonstrated enhanced daptomycin binding in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of ceftobiprole.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of combination therapy with ceftobiprole may provide a needed addition for the treatment of Gram-positive infections resistant to daptomycin or vancomycin. Consistent with what has been observed with other β-lactams, ceftobiprole increased bodipy-tagged daptomycin binding on the surface of S. aureus, potentially explaining this potent synergy observed in time-kill evaluations. More detailed evaluation of ceftobiprole is warranted to better characterize observed synergy.

Observation of "seesaw effect" with vancomycin, teicoplanin, daptomycin and ceftaroline in 150 unique MRSA strains

Introduction

Vancomycin (VAN) failures associated with the treatment of complicated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections have been well described. The reported “seesaw effect” demonstrates improved β-lactam activity when VAN and/or daptomycin (DAP) susceptibility decreases. However, there are minimal data comparing ceftaroline (CPT) susceptibility with these agents or teicoplanin (TEI). Therefore, to further explore the seesaw effect, we evaluated the relationship between CPT and VAN, TEI, and DAP susceptibilities.

Methods

One hundred and fifty clinical MRSA isolates from the Anti-Infective Research Laboratory (Detroit, MI, USA) from 2008 to 2012 were analyzed. VAN, TEI, DAP and CPT minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined via Etest methodology. MIC₅₀ and MIC₉₀ were calculated for each antibiotic. Additionally, four isogenic strain pairs were randomly selected for evaluation by time–kill methodology for the potential of enhanced killing by CPT as MICs increased to VAN, TEI, and DAP.

Results

CPT MICs were inversely correlated with VAN, DAP, and TEI MICs with correlation coefficients of −0.535, −0.483, and −0.386, respectively (P ≤ 0.05). Comparison of the MIC relationship for glycopeptides and lipopeptides resulted in a positive correlation for all agent combinations. In time–kill evaluations, CPT demonstrated greater reductions in log₁₀ colony-forming unit (CFU)/mL against mutant strains (3.73 ± 0.67) versus parents (2.79 ± 0.75) despite no change in CPT MIC (P = 0.112).

Conclusion

This study demonstrated a marked “seesaw effect” whereby CPT displayed increased susceptibility as the VAN, DAP, and TEI MICs increased. Additionally, we observed a positive linear correlation between VAN, DAP, and TEI MICs for all agent combinations. Enhanced activity was noted with CPT in mutant strains versus the parent strains despite no change in MIC. Based upon the enhanced CPT activity observed against strains with decreased susceptibility to VAN, DAP and TEI, CPT may provide an option for infections with reduced susceptibility to glycopeptides or lipopeptides. Further evaluation is warranted to investigate the clinical implications of the seesaw effect.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s40121-014-0023-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Periprosthetic joint infections: clinical and bench research

Prosthetic joint infection is a devastating complication with high morbidity and substantial cost. The incidence is low but probably underestimated. Despite a significant basic and clinical research in this field, many questions concerning the definition of prosthetic infection as well the diagnosis and the management of these infections remained unanswered. We review the current literature about the new diagnostic methods, the management and the prevention of prosthetic joint infections.

Current and prospective treatments for multidrug-resistant gram-positive infections

INTRODUCTION

Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus spp. are two of the most common organisms causing nosocomial infections today; and are consistently associated with high mortality rates (approximately 20 and 44%, respectively). Resistance among these pathogens to first line agents such as methicillin and vancomycin continues to rise while isolates with reduced susceptibility to newer agents including linezolid and daptomycin continue to emerge, representing a serious concern for clinicians.

AREAS COVERED

Mechanisms of action and resistance as well as in vitro and clinical experience in the treatment of resistant staphylococci and enterococci with currently available agents are discussed. Additionally, novel combination regimens showing enhanced efficacy and available data pertaining to prospective therapies including solithromycin, tedizolid, dalbavancin and oritavancin will be covered.

EXPERT OPINION

With an increase in organisms displaying reduced susceptibility to vancomycin and the associated treatment failures, the significance of alternative therapies such as daptomycin, linezolid, ceftaroline, and prospective anti-gram-positive agents is on the rise. As our understanding of antimicrobial pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamics principles continues to evolve, the selection of highly effective agents and optimization of dosages may lead to improved patient outcomes and delay the development of resistance.

Mechanisms of daptomycin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus: role of the cell membrane and cell wall

The bactericidal, cell membrane-targeting lipopeptide antibiotic daptomycin (DAP) is an important agent in treating invasive Staphylococcus aureus infections. However, there have been numerous recent reports of development of daptomycin resistance (DAP-R) during therapy with this agent. The mechanisms of DAP-R in S. aureus appear to be quite diverse. DAP-R strains often exhibit progressive accumulation of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the multipeptide resistance factor gene (mprF) and the yycFG components of the yycFGHI operon. Both loci are involved in key cell membrane (CM) events, with mprF being responsible for the synthesis and outer CM translocation of the positively charged phospholipid, lysyl-phosphotidylglycerol (L-PG), while the yyc operon is involved in the generalized response to stressors such as antimicrobials. In addition, other perturbations of the CM have been identified in DAP-R strains, including extremes in CM order, resistance to CM depolarization and permeabilization, and reduced surface binding of DAP. Moreover, modifications of the cell wall (CW) appear to also contribute to DAP-R, including enhanced expression of the dlt operon (involved in d-alanylation of CW teichoic acids) and progressive CW thickening.

Pharmacodynamics of a simulated single 1,200-milligram dose of oritavancin in an in vitro pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus infection

The safety and efficacy of a single 1,200-mg dose of the lipoglycopeptide oritavancin are currently being investigated in two global phase 3 studies of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections. In this study, an in vitro pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model was established to compare the free-drug pharmacodynamics associated with a single 1,200-mg dose of oritavancin to once-daily dosing with daptomycin at 6 mg/kg of body weight and twice-daily dosing with vancomycin at 1,000 mg against three methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains over 72 h. The area under the bacterial-kill curve (AUBKC) was used to assess the antibacterial effect of each dosing regimen at 24 h (AUBKC(0-24)), 48 h (AUBKC(0-48)), and 72 h (AUBKC(0-72)). The rapid bactericidal activities of oritavancin and daptomycin contributed to lower AUBKC(0-24)s for the three MRSA strains than with vancomycin (P < 0.05, as determined by analysis of variance [ANOVA]). Oritavancin exposure also resulted in a lower AUBKC(0-48) and AUBKC(0-72) against one MRSA strain and a lower AUBKC(0-48) for another strain than did vancomycin exposure (P < 0.05). Furthermore, daptomycin exposure resulted in a lower AUBKC(0-48) and AUBKC(0-72) for one of the MRSA isolates than did vancomycin exposure (P < 0.05). Lower AUBKC(0-24)s for two of the MRSA strains (P < 0.05) were obtained with oritavancin exposure than with daptomycin. Thus, the antibacterial effect from the single-dose regimen of oritavancin is as effective as that from either once-daily dosing with daptomycin or twice-daily dosing with vancomycin against the MRSA isolates tested in an in vitro pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model over 72 h. These results provide further justification to assess the single 1,200-mg dose of oritavancin for treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections.