Real-world in vitro activity of newer antibiotics against Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, including carbapenem-non-susceptible and multidrug-resistant isolates: a multicenter analysis

IMPORTANCE

Newer antibiotics against Gram-negative pathogens provide important treatment options, especially for antibiotic-resistant bacteria, but little is known about their use during routine clinical care. To use these agents appropriately, clinicians need to have access to timely susceptibility data. We evaluated 27,531 facility-reported susceptibility results from the BD Insights Research Database to gain a better understanding of real-world testing practices and susceptibility rates for six newer antibiotics. Escherichia coli was the most frequently tested potential pathogen, and ceftazidime-avibactam and ceftolozane-tazobactam had the greatest numbers of susceptibility results. For cefiderocol, eravacycline, imipenem-relabactam, and meropenem-vaborbactam, susceptibility data were available for fewer than 2% of isolates. Susceptibility comparisons should be considered with caution. Ceftazidime-avibactam had the highest susceptibility rates for Enterobacterales while cefiderocol had the highest susceptibility rates for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. New antibiotics have the potential to improve the management of Gram-negative infections, but their use may be hampered by the absence of susceptibility data.

Efficacy and safety of ceftazidime/avibactam in patients with infections caused by β-lactamase-producing Gram-negative pathogens: a pooled analysis from the Phase 3 clinical trial programme

OBJECTIVES

This post hoc pooled analysis evaluated clinical and microbiological outcomes and safety in patients with infections caused by β-lactamase-producing Gram-negative pathogens across five Phase 3, randomized, controlled, multicentre trials of ceftazidime/avibactam in adults with complicated intra-abdominal infection (cIAI), complicated urinary tract infection (cUTI)/pyelonephritis and nosocomial pneumonia (NP), including ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).

METHODS

In each trial, RECLAIM/RECLAIM 3 (cIAI), REPRISE (cIAI/cUTI), RECAPTURE (cUTI) and REPROVE (NP, including VAP) patients were randomized 1:1 to IV ceftazidime/avibactam (plus metronidazole for patients with cIAI) or comparators (carbapenems in >97% patients) for 5-21 days. Clinical and microbiological responses at the test-of-cure visit were assessed for patients with ESBLs, and/or plasmidic and/or overexpression of chromosomal AmpC, and/or serine carbapenemases without MBLs identified in baseline Gram-negative isolates by phenotypic screening and molecular characterization in the pooled microbiological modified ITT (mMITT) population.

RESULTS

In total, 813 patients (ceftazidime/avibactam, n = 389; comparator, n = 424) had ≥1 β-lactamase-producing baseline pathogen identified, amongst whom 792 patients (ceftazidime/avibactam, n = 379; comparator, n = 413) had no MBLs. The most frequent β-lactamase-producing pathogens across treatment groups were Escherichia coli (n = 381), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 261) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 53). Clinical cure rates in the pooled non-MBL β-lactamase-producing mMITT population were 88.1% (334/379) for ceftazidime/avibactam and 88.1% (364/413) for comparators; favourable microbiological response rates were 76.5% (290/379) and 68.8% (284/413), respectively. The safety profile of ceftazidime/avibactam was consistent with previous observations.

CONCLUSIONS

This analysis provides supportive evidence of the efficacy and safety of ceftazidime/avibactam in patients with infections caused by ESBLs, AmpC and serine carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative pathogens.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT01499290; NCT01726023; NCT01644643; NCT01595438/NCT01599806; NCT01808092.

Antimicrobial Activity of Ceftazidime-Avibactam Against Contemporary Pathogens From Urinary Tract Infections and Intra-abdominal Infections Collected From US Children During the 2016-2019 INFORM Surveillance Program

BACKGROUND

Antibacterial activity of ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI) was evaluated against bacterial isolates from children in the United States with a urinary tract infection (UTI) or intra-abdominal infection (IAI) during the 2016-2019 International Network for Optimal Resistance Monitoring program. Prevalence of isolates and susceptibility to CAZ-AVI in pediatric and adult patients were compared.

METHODS

Bacterial isolates were collected from children with a UTI or IAI at 70 US medical centers from 2016 to 2019. The antimicrobial activity of CAZ-AVI and comparator agents was tested by broth microdilution methods.

RESULTS

The most prevalent Enterobacterales pathogens in children with UTIs were Escherichia coli (62.5%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (12.1%) and Proteus mirabilis (6.2%). Minimum inhibitory concentration 90% values for CAZ-AVI against Enterobacterales (0.25 μg/mL) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4 μg/mL) were identical for children and adults. The most prevalent Enterobacterales pathogens in children with IAIs were E. coli (57.4%), K. pneumoniae (11.1%) and Enterobacter cloacae species complex (9.3%). All isolates of Enterobacterales from pediatric patients with UTI and IAI were susceptible to CAZ-AVI, including extended-spectrum β-lactamase phenotypes. Susceptibility of P. aeruginosa isolates to CAZ-AVI was 96.2% in children and 98.4% in adults with a UTI: for IAI it was 100% and 97.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Contemporary UTI and IAI pathogens collected from US children from 2016 to 2019 exhibited similar prevalence and susceptibilities as isolates collected from adult patients. CAZ-AVI exhibited potent activity against these pathogens.

1593. Antimicrobial Activity of Ceftazidime-Avibactam and Comparator Agents Against OXA-48 β-lactamase–Producing Enterobacterales Collected in International Medical Centers, Including the United States, in 2017–2018

Background

OXA-48 is a carbapenemase with low-level hydrolytic activity toward cephalosporins. This study evaluated in vitro activities of ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI), meropenem (MEM), meropenem-vaborbactam (MVB), ceftolozane-tazobactam (C/T), and other antimicrobial agents against 113 OXA-48-producing Enterobacterales with multiple resistance mechanisms collected in a 2017–2018 global surveillance program.

Methods

Nonduplicate clinical isolates of 113 Enterobacterales were collected from medical centers in 25 countries in 2017–2018. In vitro susceptibility tests were performed by broth microdilution with a custom-made panel consisting of CAZ-AVI, ceftazidime (CAZ), MEM, MVB, C/T, colistin (COL), gentamicin (GEN), levofloxacin (LEV), and amikacin (AMK). Whole genome sequencing or quantitative PCR data were used to analyze resistance mechanisms, such as OXA-48, extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL), original-spectrum β-lactamase (OSBL), and AmpC β-lactamase. Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute breakpoints were applied for susceptibility interpretations.

Results

Of 113 OXA-48–producing clinical isolates, 20 carried OXA-48 alone. The remaining 93 isolates carried additional β-lactamases, including 63 with ESBL (CTX-M-15) + OSBL (SHV, TEM), 15 with AmpC (DHA, AAC, CMY) + ESBL (CTX-M-15), and 15 with OSBL (SHV, TEM). 99.1% (all but 1) of all isolates tested were susceptible to CAZ-AVI, whereas 71.7%, 17.7%, and 14.2% were susceptible to MVB, MEM, and C/T, respectively. Among isolates harboring multiple resistance mechanisms (OXA-48 + ESBL + OSBL; n=63), 98.4%, 69.8%, 11.1%, and 7.9% were susceptible to CAZ-AVI, MVB, MEM, and C/T, respectively. Among isolates carrying OXA-48 + AmpC + ESBL + OSBL (n=15), 100%, 66.7%, 13.3%, and 13.3% were susceptible to CAZ-AVI, MVB, MEM, and C/T, respectively (Table). Aminoglycosides (AMK and GEN) and other β-lactams (eg, CAZ) were 20%–90% active against these isolates. COL was the second most effective comparator, inhibiting 83.2% of these isolates.

Table

Conclusion

CAZ-AVI was the most effective agent in this study compared with other antibiotics, including β-lactams, β-lactam–β-lactamase inhibitor combinations, aminoglycosides, and COL, against OXA-48-producing Enterobacterales carrying multiple β-lactamases.

Disclosures

Lynn-Yao Lin, MS, AbbVie (Employee) Dmitri Debabov, PhD, AbbVie (Employee) William Chang, BS, AbbVie (Employee)

1592. Antimicrobial Activity of Ceftazidime-Avibactam and Comparator Agents Against Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa With Overexpression of AmpC β-Lactamase From Phase 3 Clinical Trials

Background

AmpC overproduction is a main mechanism of carbapenem resistance, in the absence of acquired carbapenemases. Ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI) has potent in vitro activity against AmpC-producing P. aeruginosa and Enterobacterales that are resistant to carbapenems and other β-lactams.

Methods

Activity of CAZ-AVI and comparators was evaluated against AmpC-overproducing Enterobacterales (n=77) and P. aeruginosa (n=53) collected from 4 CAZ-AVI clinical trials: RECLAIM (complicated intra-abdominal infection [cIAI]), REPRISE (cIAI/complicated urinary tract infection [cUTI]), RECAPTURE (cUTI) and REPROVE (hospital-acquired pneumonia/ventilator associated pneumonia). In vitro susceptibility of CAZ-AVI and comparators was performed by broth microdilution using ThermoFisher custom panels. CLSI breakpoints were used to determine susceptibility. Quantitative PCR and microarray data were used to characterize presence and expression of AmpC. Clinical response at test of cure was assessed.

Results

Against 77 AmpC-overproducing Enterobacterales isolates, meropenem-vaborbactam (MVB) (98.7% susceptible [S]), CAZ-AVI (96.1% S), and meropenem (MEM) (96.1% S) had similar in vitro activity (Table), with greater in vitro activity than amikacin (AMK) (84.4% S), gentamicin (61.0% S), and ceftolozane-tazobactam (TZC) (35.1% S). Clinical cures in patients with baseline AmpC-overproducing Enterobacterales were 21/26 (81%) in CAZ-AVI group vs 17/20 (85%) in control groups. Against 53 AmpC-overproducing P. aeruginosa isolates, CAZ-AVI (73.6% S) showed greater in vitro activity than AMK (69.8% S), TZC (58.5% S), and MEM (37.7% S). Clinical cures in patients with baseline AmpC-overproducing P. aeruginosa were 12/14 (86%) in CAZ-AVI group vs 9/12 (75%) in control groups. MIC distributions against the same P aeruginosa isolates were CAZ-AVI (MIC_50/90, 4/ >64 µg/mL)_, MVB (MIC_50/90, 8/32 µg/mL), and MEM (MIC_50/90, 8/32 µg/mL).

Table

Conclusion

CAZ-AVI was the most active agent against AmpC-overproducing P. aeruginosa with higher proportion of clinical cure than controls. CAZ-AVI was also among the most active agents against AmpC-overproducing Enterobacterales, with >96% isolates susceptible.

Disclosures

Lynn-Yao Lin, MS, AbbVie (Employee) Dmitri Debabov, PhD, AbbVie (Employee) William Chang, BS, AbbVie (Employee) Urania Rappo, MD, MS, PharmD, Allergan (before its acquisition by AbbVie) (Employee)

1000. Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Gram-Positive Bacteria Isolated From Patients Hospitalized With Bacteremia in United States and European Medical Centers: Results From the International Dalbavancin Evaluation of Activity (IDEA) Program

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Disclosures

Comparative in vitro Activities of Ceftazidime–Avibactam and Ceftolozane-tazobactam Against Characterized β-Lactamase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Background

Ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI) and ceftolozane-tazobactam (TOL-TAZ) are cephalosporin/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations recently approved for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI) and complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI). Both agents are reported to have antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa including multi-drug-resistant strains, but few studies have directly compared the activities of both agents against the same strains in a single study. This study evaluated the activities of both agents against characterized β-lactamase-producing P. aeruginosa using broth microdilution (BMD) and disk diffusion (DD) methods.

Methods

A total of 98 clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa, including characterized β-lactamase-producing strains were tested for susceptibility to CAZ-AVI and TOL-TAZ using BMD and DD and results were interpreted using FDA/CLSI breakpoints. The isolates tested included CTX-M (ESBL), AmpC, KPC, OXA and metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) producing organisms. The results from both BMD and DD were analyzed to assess the correlation between the testing methods and ability to differentiate isolates susceptible and resistant to both agents.

Results

CAZ-AVI and TOL-TAZ exhibited similar MIC values against all isolates with MIC_50/90 values of 2 and 16 µg/mL, respectively. When results were interpreted using FDA/CLSI breakpoints, the susceptibility rates for CAZ-AVI and TOL-TAZ were 82.7% and 62.2%, respectively. Isolates resistant to CAZ-AVI were predominantly MBL-producers whereas isolates resistant to TOL-TAZ included both MBL and KPC-producing P. aeruginosa. Both agents were active against AmpC-producing P. aeruginosa and both agents showed good correlation between BMD and DD methods.

Conclusion

CAZ-AVI and TOL-TAZ were active against β-lactamase-producing subsets of P. aeruginosa isolates in this challenge set. Both AmpC and KPC-producing P. aeruginosa were susceptible to CAZ-AVI whereas TOL-TAZ activity was limited to AmpC-producing organisms. Neither agent was active against MBL-producing organisms.

Disclosures

L. Y. Lin, Allergan plc: Employee, Salary; M. Vail, Allergan plc: Employee and Intern during study conduct and analysis, Educational support; D. Debabov, Allergan plc: Employee, Salary; I. Critchley, Allergan plc: Employee, Salary

Approved Glycopeptide Antibacterial Drugs: Mechanism of Action and Resistance

The glycopeptide antimicrobials are a group of natural product and semisynthetic glycosylated peptides that show antibacterial activity against Gram-positive organisms through inhibition of cell-wall synthesis. This is achieved primarily through binding to the d-alanyl-d-alanine terminus of the lipid II bacterial cell-wall precursor, preventing cross-linking of the peptidoglycan layer. Vancomycin is the foundational member of the class, showing both clinical longevity and a still preferential role in the therapy of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and of susceptible Enterococcus spp. Newer lipoglycopeptide derivatives (telavancin, dalbavancin, and oritavancin) were designed in a targeted fashion to increase antibacterial activity, in some cases through secondary mechanisms of action. Resistance to the glycopeptides emerged in delayed fashion and occurs via a spectrum of chromosome- and plasmid-associated elements that lead to structural alteration of the bacterial cell-wall precursor substrates.

Treatment of Acute Necrotizing Fasciitis Using Negative Pressure Wound Therapy and Adjunctive NeutroPhase Irrigation Under the Foam

Necrotizing fasciitis is a complication of a bacterial infection that activates the immune system in perifascial planes. This case report highlights initial diagnostic failures that delay early treatment, which causes profoundly negative consequences. Antimicrobial control with abolition of the inciting bacteria does not neutralize the subsequent endopathologic ravages. A new therapeutic technique, which combines negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) and a pure hypochlorous acid solution 0.01% (NeutroPhase, NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Inc, Emeryville, CA) along with debridement and antibiotics is described in this study. It is believed that the combination of neutralization of the toxins produced by bacteria with NeutroPhase along with the NPWT action of removing exudates is effective in saving the patient.

Broad-spectrum virucidal activity of (NVC-422) N,N-dichloro-2,2-dimethyltaurine against viral ocular pathogens in vitro

PURPOSE

Viral conjunctivitis is a highly contagious infection often causing major epidemics. A safe broad-spectrum antiviral agent is needed to treat this unmet medical need. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that in vitro NVC-422 is a safe, broad-spectrum topical virucidal agent with activity against ophthalmic viral pathogens.

METHODS

The virucidal activity of NVC-422 against several serotypes of human adenovirus (HAdV), coxsackievirus A24, enterovirus 70, and herpes simplex-virus-1 (HSV-1) was tested in standard in vitro titer reduction assays with or without tears. An in vitro irritancy score for NVC-422 was determined using the MatTek EpiOcular tissue system.

RESULTS

NVC-422 reduced the viral titer of HAdV-5, HAdV-8, HAdV-19, HAdV-37, and HSV-1 by at least 4 logs after 1 hour incubation at 250 μM. Incubation of coxsackievirus A24 and enterovirus 70 with 2.5 mM NVC-422 for 1 hour reduced the viral titer by 4 logs and 4.5 logs, respectively. The virucidal activity of NVC-422 is maintained in the presence of 10% synthetic tears. In the EpiOcular corneal tissue model, NVC-422 was nonirritating at concentrations up to 41 mM.

CONCLUSIONS

NVC-422 has potent, rapid in vitro virucidal activity against major causes of conjunctivitis. Its broad-spectrum virucidal activity combined with favorable safety profile validates NVC-422 as a potential new therapeutic agent against viral conjunctivitis.

NeutroPhase(®) in chronic non-healing wounds

Chronic non-healing wounds, such as venous stasis ulcers, diabetic ulcers, and pressure ulcers are serious unmet medical needs that affect a patient's morbidity and mortality. Common pathogens observed in chronic non-healing wounds are Staphylococcus including MRSA, Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, Stenotrophomonas, and Serratia spp. Topical and systemically administered antibiotics do not adequately decrease the level of bacteria or the associated biofilm in chronic granulating wounds and the use of sub-lethal concentrations of antibiotics can lead to resistant phenotypes. Furthermore, topical antiseptics may not be fully effective and can actually impede wound healing. We show 5 representative examples from our more than 30 clinical case studies using NeutroPhase(®) as an irrigation solution with chronic non-healing wounds with and without the technique of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). NeutroPhase(®) is pure 0.01% hypochlorous acid (i.e. >97% relative molar distribution of active chlorine species as HOCl) in a 0.9% saline solution at pH 4-5 and is stored in glass containers. NovaBay has three FDA cleared 510(k)s. Patients showed a profound improvement and marked accelerated rates of wound healing using NeutroPhase(®) with and without NPWT. NeutroPhase(®) was non-toxic to living tissues.

N-chlorotaurine and its analogues N,N-dichloro-2,2-dimethyltaurine and N-monochloro-2,2-dimethyltaurine are safe and effective bactericidal agents in ex vivo corneal infection models

PURPOSE

N-chlorotaurine (NCT) and its analogues N-monochloro-2,2-dimethyltaurine (NVC-612) and N-dichloro-2,2-dimethyltaurine (NVC-422) are new anti-infectives for topical treatment for conjunctivitis. The aim of this study was to show that these compounds are safe in an EpiOcular model and effective in corneas infected ex vivo.

METHODS

Corneal buttons were excised from porcine eyes. In 183 of the 229 corneas, erosion and artificial superficial stromal incision were induced. They were bathed in suspensions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staphylococcus aureus for 24 hr at 37°C and incubated in solutions of the test substances at 37°C and pH 7.1. Subsequently, they were subjected to histology (n = 20) or homogenized followed by quantitative bacterial cultures (n = 209). Ocular irritation was tested using the EpiOcular™ tissue system (MatTek Corporation).

RESULTS

Bacterial accumulations were detected histologically both on the corneal surface and also in the anterior third of the stroma of incised corneal buttons. All three test compounds at a concentration of 55 mm (equals 1% NCT) reduced the bacterial counts of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus by approximately 5 log10 after 60- and 120-min incubation, respectively. Significant killing was observed as early as after 5-min incubation. Also intrastromal bacteria were inactivated. In the EpiOcular™ tissue model, NCT, NVC-422 and NVC-612 had no or very low potential to irritate corneal tissue.

CONCLUSION

N-chlorotaurine, NVC-422 and NVC-612 are non-irritating in cornea and kill P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, even following penetration into the deeper corneal stromal layers.

N-chlorotaurine, a long-lived oxidant produced by human leukocytes, inactivates Shiga toxin of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli

N-chlorotaurine (NCT), the main representative of long-lived oxidants produced by granulocytes and monocytes, is known to exert broad-spectrum microbicidal activity. Here we show that NCT directly inactivates Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2), used as a model toxin secreted by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). Bacterial growth and Stx2 production were both inhibited by 2 mM NCT. The cytotoxic effect of Stx2 on Vero cells was removed by ≥5.5 mM NCT. Confocal microscopy and FACS analyses showed that the binding of Stx2 to human kidney glomerular endothelial cells was inhibited, and no NCT-treated Stx2 entered the cytosol. Mass spectrometry displayed oxidation of thio groups and aromatic amino acids of Stx2 by NCT. Therefore, long-lived oxidants may act as powerful tools of innate immunity against soluble virulence factors of pathogens. Moreover, inactivation of virulence factors may contribute to therapeutic success of NCT and novel analogs, which are in development as topical antiinfectives.

Efficacy of NVC-422 against Staphylococcus aureus biofilms in a sheep biofilm model of sinusitis

BACKGROUND

Bacterial biofilms are a major obstacle in management of recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis. NVC-422 is a potent, fast-acting, broad-spectrum, nonantibiotic, antimicrobial with a new mechanism of action effective against biofilm bacteria in in vitro conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of NVC-422 as local antibiofilm treatment in a sheep model of rhinosinusitis.

METHODS

After accessing and occluding frontal sinus ostia in 24 merino sheep via staged endoscopic procedures, S. aureus clinical isolate was instilled in frontal sinuses. Following biofilm formation, ostial obstruction was removed and sinuses irrigated with 0.1% and 0.5% NVC-422 in 5 mM acetate isotonic saline at pH 4.0. Sheep were monitored for adverse effects and euthanized 24 hours after treatment. Frontal sinuses were assessed for infection and changes in mucosa after the treatment. S. aureus biofilms were identified with Baclight-confocal scanning microscopy protocol and the biofilm biomass assayed by applying the COMSTAT2 program to recorded image stacks.

RESULTS

After 2 irrigations with 0.1% NVC-422, S. aureus biofilm biomass was reduced when compared to control sinuses (p = 0.0001), though this effect was variable in samples. NVC-422 0.5% solution irrigations reduced biofilm even more significantly and consistently over all samples (p < 0.0001). NVC-422 0.5% was also more effective than 0.1% NVC-422, vehicle control, and normal saline sinus irrigations in reducing biofilm biomass (p < 0.05 for all subgroups). No adverse events were observed in sheep after sinus irrigations with 0.1% and 0.5% NVC-422 solutions.

CONCLUSION

NVC-422 is an effective topical agent against S. aureus biofilms, with dose-dependent efficacy in this animal model of biofilm-associated sinusitis.

Virucidal mechanism of action of NVC-422, a novel antimicrobial drug for the treatment of adenoviral conjunctivitis

Human adenoviral conjunctivitis is a highly contagious eye infection affecting millions of people world-wide. If untreated, it can further develop into keratitis, corneal ulceration, scarring and possible blindness. Despite the significant patient morbidity and socio-economic costs, it is an unmet medical need with no FDA approved treatment. Here, we demonstrate the virucidal activity of NVC-422 (N,N-dichloro-2,2-dimethyltaurine) against adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) and investigated its mechanism of action of Ad5 inactivation. NVC-422 inhibits Ad5-induced loss of cell viability in vitro with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) ranging from 9 to 23 μM. NVC-422 does not cause any cytotoxicity at concentrations as high as 250 μM. Invitro, NVC-422 inactivates Ad5 but does not interfere with viral replication, indicating that NVC-422 acts on the extracellular adenovirus as a virucidal agent. NVC-422 inactivates Ad5 by oxidative inactivation of key viral proteins such as fiber and hexon as evidenced by SDS-PAGE, Western blotting and reversed-phase HPLC. These data, combined with measurements of the kinetics of the NVC-422 reactivity with selected amino acids, indicate that the changes in the viral proteins are caused by the selective oxidation of sulfur-containing amino acids. The conformational changes of the viral proteins result in the destruction of the viral morphology as shown by transmission electron microscopy. In summary, NVC-422 exhibits virucidal activity against Ad5 by the oxidative inactivation of key viral proteins, leading to the loss of viral integrity and infectivity.

NVC-422 topical gel for the treatment of impetigo

Impetigo is a highly contagious bacterial skin infection affecting children worldwide that is caused by the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, or both. Staphylococcus species can quickly develop drug resistance rendering mupirocin, fusidic acid, and erythromycin ineffective. Preclinical and clinical studies demonstrated that NVC-422 (N, N-dichloro-2, 2-dimethyltaurine) rapidly kills pathogens without the development of drug resistance. 129 patients with clinically diagnosed impetigo were randomized to three dose groups (0.1, 0.5, or 1.5% NVC-422 topical gel) in a study conducted at 2 centers; 125 patients (97%) had microbiologically confirmed infection. Treatment was administered three times a day (TID) for 7 days to all randomized subjects. Response was measured at the completion of treatment (Day 8) and 1 week post treatment (Day 15) by the Skin Infection Rating Scale (SIRS) and by microbiological response. A total of 120 subjects (96%) completed all 7 days of treatment and were assessed at end of treatment (EOT). Clinical response rate at EOT in the PPC population was excellent in each of the dose groups (84.6%, 87.2%, and 92.3% in the 0.1%, 0.5% and 1.5% dose groups respectively). The majority of the infections were caused by S. aureus, alone (106/125, 85%) of which approximately 10% were MRSA. There were no clinical recurrences in any treatment groups. Treatment-emergent adverse events were seen in 5.4% of the subjects (7/129) and were mild to moderate and resolved. NVC-422 topical gel administered TID was well tolerated, with high rates of clinical and microbiological responses for treating impetigo.

In vitro activity of TD-6424 against Staphylococcus aureus

TD-6424, a rapidly bactericidal agent with multiple mechanisms of action, is more potent in vitro and more rapidly bactericidal than currently available agents against methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. TD-6424 produces a postantibiotic effect with a duration of 4 to 6 h against these organisms. The results suggest potential efficacy against susceptible and resistant strains of S. aureus.