P-1216. Comparison of the in vivo Efficacy and Resistance Development Potential between Cefiderocol (FDC) and Ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T) Human Simulated Exposures against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 72 Hour Murine Thigh Infection Model
Authors: Fouad Aliaa , Nicolau Samantha , Tamma Pranita , Simner Patricia J , Nicolau David P , Gill Christian M 
Published: January 2025

Abstract

Background
Pseudomonas aeruginosa with difficult-to-treat resistance (DTR-PSA) is a clinical burden. C/T is recommended for DTR-PSA although FDC represents an attractive option due to its in vitro potency against isolates with C/T-resistance. Head-to-head data assessing these compounds against DTR-PSA are lacking.

Methods
The efficacy and resistance development of FDC and C/T was assessed in a 72h murine thigh model against five clinical DTR-PSA isolates that previously developed resistance to C/T in patients. Index isolates (FDC and C/T-susceptible) were used. Human-simulating regimens (HSR) of FDC 2g IV q8h and C/T 2/1g IV q8h were utilized. Efficacy was assessed as change in bacterial density from starting inoculum and compared with translational endpoints of 1- and 2-log10 kill at 24, 48, and 72h. Development of resistance was a post-exposure MIC increase greater than 4-fold doubling dilutions versus untreated controls.

Results
All isolates established a robust infection in the model as the mean ± SD bacterial burden across the 5 test isolates of 5.59 ± 0.4 log10 cfu/thigh at 0h and grew over the initial 24h in untreated controls with a mean increase of 3.41 ± 0.88 log10 cfu/thigh. FDC reached the 24h 1-log10 kill endpoint indicative of clinical efficacy in 5/5 tested isolates, however; C/T reached same endpoint in 3/5 isolates. FDC reached 2-log10 kill in all isolates by 48h which was sustained over 72h. Conversely, C/T achieved 2-log10 kill 3/5 and 4/5 isolates by 48 and 72h, respectively. In the FDC and C/T-treated groups 17% and 8% of the cultures displayed bacterial eradication after exposure to the HSR regimens which hindered MIC testing for those samples. Development of resistance was not observed post-exposure for either agent.

Conclusion
While frank resistance did not develop to either compound, differences in the rate and extent of kill were observed. Despite susceptibility to both FDC and C/T, humanized FDC exposures provided a more rapid killing and achieved a greater magnitude of bactericidal activity relative to C/T. Since head-to-head randomized comparisons of these agents against DTR-P. aeruginosa are unlikely to be conducted, in vivo models with humanized exposures provide translational assessment of a challenging clinical scenario.

Disclosures
Samantha Nicolau, PhD, Sanofi Pasteur: Full time research scientist Patricia J. Simner, PhD, Affinity Biosensors: Grant/Research Support|BD Diagnostics: Grant/Research Support|bioMérieux: Grant/Research Support|Entasis: Personal fees|GeneCapture: Personal Fees|Merck: Personal fees|OpGen Inc: Grant/Research Support|Qiagen: Grant/Research Support|Shionogi: Personal fees|T2 Biosystems: Grant/Research Support David P. Nicolau, PharmD, CARB-X: Grant/Research Support|Innoviva: Grant/Research Support|Innoviva: Honoraria|Merck: Advisor/Consultant|Merck: Grant/Research Support|Merck: Honoraria|Pfizer: Advisor/Consultant|Pfizer: Grant/Research Support|Pfizer: Honoraria|Shionogi: Advisor/Consultant|Shionogi: Grant/Research Support|Shionogi: Honoraria|Venatorx: Grant/Research Support Christian M. Gill, PharmD, Cepheid: Grant/Research Support|Entasis: Grant/Research Support|Everest Medicines: Grant/Research Support|Shionogi: Grant/Research Support