Efficacy and Cost Comparison of Ertapenem as Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy in Acute Pyelonephritis due to Extended-spectrum Beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae

Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy with carbapenems: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To review the literature on parenteral carbapenems in OPAT and present comprehensive evidence on their safety, efficacy, and stability.

METHODS

A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted through 17 January 2024, using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library to find relevant articles.

RESULTS

Ertapenem (1 g QD) in OPAT showed high clinical (81-97%) and microbiological (67-90.9%) success rates. Ertapenem (1 g QD) was also comparable to piperacillin/tazobactam (3.375 g every 6 h) for complicated skin infections and superior to cefazolin (2 g every 8 h) and oxacillin (2 g every 4-6 h) for various infections. Ertapenem monotherapy, once daily, achieved an 81% clinical cure rate for urinary tract infections. Additionally, subcutaneous ertapenem in OPAT showed outcomes comparable to parenteral routes. Meropenem continuous infusion (CI) may also be considered safe and effective in selected patient populations; however, its use in OPAT as a CI is limited due to stability concerns.

CONCLUSION

Parenteral carbapenems are effective, and well-tolerated OPAT treatment options; nonetheless, further studies are warranted to optimize the stability and/or dosing regimens of meropenem and enable its wider use.

Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Escherichia coli Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis Causing Sausage Toe Deformity: Successful Therapy with Ertapenem in the Outpatient Setting

BACKGROUND Diabetic foot osteomyelitis is a high-morbidity and debilitating complication of diabetic foot ulcers that contributes to significantly worse quality of life in the affected population and higher cost of healthcare services. One of the clinical presentations of diabetic foot osteomyelitis is the 'sausage' toe deformity, which affects the phalanges (local soft tissue infection and underlying bony changes). This deformity is highly suggestive of the presence of osteomyelitis. Unfortunately, during recent years, the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria have created great difficulties in choosing appropriate empirical antibiotics for the treatment of diabetic foot infections. Multidrug-resistant pathogens have been strongly related to higher morbidity and mortality compared with infections caused by their antibiotic-susceptible counterparts. CASE REPORT We describe a case of a 74-year-old woman with long-standing insulin-treated type 2 diabetes, who experienced extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli infection that caused diabetic foot osteomyelitis with 'sausage' deformity in her second right toe. She was successfully treated with surgical debridement combined with the administration of ertapenem in the outpatient setting, completing, in total, a 6-week course of antibiotic therapy. CONCLUSIONS 'Sausage' toe deformity is one of the clinical presentations of diabetic foot osteomyelitis, and should be an alarming sign in everyday clinical practice. Ertapenem is an excellent option for the treatment of diabetic foot infections caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase E. coli in the outpatient setting. Early diagnosis and proper therapeutic approach are of great importance to reduce the risk of amputations, overall mortality, total cost, and the surge of antimicrobial resistance in the community.

Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs: A Review of Strategies to Avoid Polymyxins and Carbapenems Misuse in Low Middle-Income Countries

Antibiotics misuse and overuse are concerning issues worldwide, especially in low middle-income countries. These practices contribute to the increasing rates of antimicrobial resistance. One efficient strategy to avoid them is antimicrobial stewardship programs. In this review, we focus on the possible approaches to spare the prescription of polymyxins and carbapenems for the treatment of Acinetobacter baumannii, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales, and Pseudomonas aeruginosas infections. Additionally, we highlight how to implement cumulative antibiograms and biomarkers to a sooner de-escalation of antibiotics.