<i>In Vitro</i> Activity of Ceftazidime-Avibactam against Carbapenem-Resistant and Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates

Abstract

Carbapenem-resistant and hypervirulent <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> (CR-hvKp) strains have emerged while antimicrobial treatment options remain limited. Herein, we tested the <i>in vitro</i> activity of ceftazidime-avibactam and other comparator antibiotics against 65 CR-hvKp isolates. Ceftazidime-avibactam, colistin, and tigecycline are highly active <i>in vitro</i> against CR-hvKp isolates (MIC₉₀, ≤1 μg/ml), including <i>K. pneumoniae</i> carbapenemase 2 (KPC-2)-producing ST11 CR-hvKp. On the basis of previous clinical experience and the <i>in vitro</i> data presented herein, we posit that ceftazidime-avibactam is a therapeutic option against CR-hvKp infections.