In Vitro Time-Kill Studies of Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole against Stenotrophomonas maltophilia versus Escherichia coli Using Cation-Adjusted Mueller-Hinton Broth and ISO-Sensitest Broth

Abstract

Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMZ) is considered the treatment of choice for infections caused by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, but limited pharmacodynamic data are available to support current susceptibility breakpoints or guide optimal dosing. Time-kill studies using a TMP/SMZ concentration of 4/40 μg/mL were conducted to compare 4 S. maltophilia with 4 Escherichia coli isolates having the same MICs (0.25/4.75 to 4/76 μg/mL) in cation-adjusted Mueller-Hinton broth (CAMHB) and ISO-Sensitest broth (ISO broth). With the exception of the resistant isolates (4/76 μg/mL), which resulted in regrowth approaching the growth of the control, TMP/SMZ displayed significantly greater killing for E. coli than for S. maltophilia at each MIC. Against E. coli, the mean changes at 24 h were -4.49, -1.73, -1.59, and +1.83 log₁₀ CFU for isolates with MICs of 0.25/4.75, 1/19, 2/39, and 4/74 μg/mL, respectively. The area under the concentration-time curve for the free, unbound fraction of the drug (fAUC)/MIC ratio required for stasis and 1-log₁₀ and 2-log₁₀ CFU reductions were 40.7, 59.5, and 86.3, respectively. In contrast, TMP/SMZ displayed no stasis or CFU reductions against any S. maltophilia isolate regardless of the MIC, and no pharmacodynamic thresholds were quantifiable. Observations were consistent in both CAMHB and ISO broth. These data add increasing evidence that current TMP/SMZ susceptibility breakpoints against S. maltophilia should be reassessed.

Keywords: Gram negative; in vitro; pharmacodynamics; susceptibility breakpoint.

FIG 1

In vitro time-kill growth curves of S. maltophilia and E. coli in CAMHB after exposure to TMP/SMZ at 4/40 μg/mL. Isolates are referenced to CAMHB MICs for comparison.

FIG 2

TMP/SMZ exposure-response E_max model fits based on the trimethoprim component for S. maltophilia (a) and E. coli (b). Individual data points are plotted by the modal MIC in the respective media.