Modeling Meropenem Treatment, Alone and in Combination with Daptomycin, for KPC-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Strains with Unusually Low Carbapenem MICs

Abstract

Klebsiella pneumoniae strains producing K. pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) cause serious infections in debilitated and immunocompromised patients and are associated with prolonged hospital stays and increased mortality rates. Daptomycin is a lipopeptide used against Staphylococcus aureus infection and considered inactive against Gram-negative bacteria. We investigated the effectiveness of a daptomycin-meropenem combination by synergy kill curve and a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model. The combination may represent a novel therapeutic strategy against infections caused by KPC-producing K. pneumoniae strains.