In vitro activity of imipenem/relebactam, meropenem/vaborbactam and comparators against Enterobacterales from patients with intra-abdominal infections: Results of the study for Monitoring Antimicrobial Resistance Trends (SMART) in Taiwan, 2020

Background: Multi-drug resistant Enterobacterales is a growing health threat. Imipenem/relebactam and meropenem/vaborbactam, are not clinically used in Taiwan and the susceptibility is lack from routine laboratory tests. Methods: Broth microdilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and interpreted according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) breakpoints criteria. Isolates that were not susceptible to imipenem (MIC ≥ 2 mg/L), imipenem/relebactam (MIC ≥ 2 mg/L), or ceftolozane-tazobactam (MIC ≥ 4 mg/L) were selected for further molecular testing for genes encoding extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs), AmpC β-lactamases, and carbapenemases by multiplex PCR assays. Results: A total of 290 Enterobacterales isolates from 9 participating hospitals were collected in 2020. Escherichia coli (n = 135, 46.6%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 88, 30.3%) were two leading pathogens of all Enterobacterales isolates. The antimicrobial agents with susceptibility rates more than 90% included amikacin (99.3%, 288/290), ertapenem (90.0%, 261/290), meropenem (97.2%, 282/290), imipenem/relebactam (94.8%, 275/290) and meropenem/vaborbactam (99.3%, 288/290). K. pneumoniae isolates were less susceptible to ertapenem, imipenem, meropenem, piperacillin-tazobactam and ceftozolane/tazobactam than E. coli (all p < 0.05). ESBL, AmpC, and carbapenemase were detected in 40.5% (17/42), 45.2% (19/42) and 11.9% (5/42) among tested isolates, respectively. The 5 carbapenemase genes included 4 bla_KPC and 1 bla_IMP. The imipenem-non-susceptible isolates (n = 30) had higher susceptibility rates to meropenem/vaborbactam (93.3%, 28/30) than imipenem/relebactam (50%, 12/30) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Imipenem/relebactam and meropenem/vaborbactam had excellent efficacy against Enterobacterales isolates. Meropenem/vaborbactam allowed better salvage therapy for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales infections.