In Vivo Pharmacodynamic Profile of Ceftibuten-Clavulanate Combination against Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae in the Murine Thigh Infection Model

Ceftibuten-clavulanate (CTB-CLA) is a novel β-lactam-β-lactamase combination with potential utility for the management of urinary tract infections caused by extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing organisms. We examined the pharmacodynamics of the combination against 25 Enterobacteriaceae expressing β-lactamases (CTX-M, TEM, and SHV wild types and SHV-ESBL) in the murine thigh infection model. MIC values of CTB and CTB-CLA ranged from 1 to >32 mg/liter and 0.125 to 8 mg/liter, respectively. Human-simulated regimens of CTB and CLA equivalent to clinical doses of 400 mg orally (p.o.) every 8 h (q8h) and 187 mg q8h, respectively, were developed. CLA dose fractionation studies were undertaken to characterize the driver of efficacy. CLA dose-ranging studies were undertaken to assess the activity of the CTB human-simulated regimen in combination with escalating CLA exposures. The relationships between the percentage of the dosing interval during which the free CLA plasma concentrations remained above a threshold concentration (%fT>C_T ) and the change in log₁₀ CFU per thigh at 24 h were examined across different threshold concentrations. Additionally, the efficacy of a human-simulated regimen of CTB-CLA was assessed against isolates with various susceptibilities to the combination. The pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic index that best correlated with the efficacy of the combination was %fT > threshold CLA plasma concentration of 0.5 mg/liter. The plasma %fT>0.5 mg/liter associated with the static endpoint was 20.59%. For isolates with CTB-CLA MICs of ≤4 mg/liter, stasis was achieved with a human-simulated regimen of CTB-CLA against 20/22 isolates (90.9%), while for isolates with MICs of 8 mg/liter, only 1/3 tested isolates (33.3%) displayed stasis. Results suggest a susceptibility breakpoint of 4 mg/liter for CTB-CLA. These data support the consideration of the CTB-CLA combination for the treatment of urinary tract infections due to ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae.