Journal article
Raising the Stakes: Loss of Efflux Pump Regulation Decreases Meropenem Susceptibility in Burkholderia pseudomallei
Clinical Infectious Diseases, Vol.67(2), pp.243-250
2018
Abstract
Background: Burkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of the high-mortality disease melioidosis, is a gram-negative bacterium that is naturally resistant to many antibiotics. There is no vaccine for melioidosis, and effective eradication is reliant on biphasic and prolonged antibiotic administration. The carbapenem drug meropenem is the current gold standard option for treating severe melioidosis. Intrinsic B. pseudomallei resistance toward meropenem has not yet been documented; however, resistance could conceivably develop over the course of infection, leading to prolonged sepsis and treatment failure. Methods: We examined our 30-year clinical collection of melioidosis cases to identify B. pseudomallei isolates with reduced meropenem susceptibility. Isolates were subjected to minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) testing toward meropenem. Paired isolates from patients who had evolved decreased susceptibility were subjected to whole-genome sequencing. Select agent-compliant genetic manipulation was carried out to confirm the molecular mechanisms conferring resistance. Results: We identified 11 melioidosis cases where B. pseudomallei isolates developed decreased susceptibility toward meropenem during treatment, including 2 cases not treated with this antibiotic. Meropenem MICs increased from 0.5-0.75 microg/mL to 3-8 microg/mL. Comparative genomics identified multiple mutations affecting multidrug resistance-nodulation-division (RND) efflux pump regulators, with concomitant overexpression of their corresponding pumps. All cases were refractory to treatment despite aggressive, targeted therapy, and 2 were associated with a fatal outcome. Conclusions: This study confirms the role of RND efflux pumps in decreased meropenem susceptibility in B. pseudomallei. These findings have important ramifications for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of life-threatening melioidosis cases.
Details
- Title
- Raising the Stakes: Loss of Efflux Pump Regulation Decreases Meropenem Susceptibility in Burkholderia pseudomallei
- Authors
- Derek S Sarovich (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringJ R Webb (Author) - Menzies School of Health ResearchM C Pitman (Author) - Royal Darwin HospitalL T Viberg (Author) - Menzies School of Health ResearchM Mayo (Author) - Menzies School of Health ResearchR W Baird (Author) - Royal Darwin HospitalJ M Robson (Author) - Sullivan Nicolaides PathologyB J Currie (Author) - Menzies School of Health ResearchErin P Price (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
- Publication details
- Clinical Infectious Diseases, Vol.67(2), pp.243-250
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Date published
- 2018
- DOI
- 10.1093/cid/ciy069
- ISSN
- 1058-4838
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Centre for Bioinnovation
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99451255602621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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- Immunology
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