Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains resistant to almost all available anti-tuberculosis drugs are an increasing threat to public health worldwide. Among existing drugs with potential antimycobacterial effects, the combination of meropenem with clavulanate has been shown to have potent in vitro bactericidal activity against extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). To explore its potential clinical efficacy, a meropenem-clavulanate-containing salvage regimen was started in six patients with severe pulmonary XDR-TB, in association with the only one or two remaining active second-line drugs. Encouraging preliminary data are detailed and discussed.
MeSH terms
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Adolescent
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Adult
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Antitubercular Agents / administration & dosage
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Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use
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Clavulanic Acid / administration & dosage
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Clavulanic Acid / therapeutic use*
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Drug Therapy, Combination
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Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis / drug therapy*
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Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis / microbiology
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Meropenem
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Microbial Sensitivity Tests
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Middle Aged
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Mycobacterium tuberculosis / drug effects
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Salvage Therapy / methods
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Severity of Illness Index
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Thienamycins / administration & dosage
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Thienamycins / therapeutic use*
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Treatment Outcome
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Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / drug therapy*
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Young Adult
Substances
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Antitubercular Agents
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Thienamycins
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Clavulanic Acid
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Meropenem