Compassionate use of a novel β-lactam enhancer-based investigational antibiotic cefepime/zidebactam (WCK 5222) for the treatment of extensively-drug-resistant NDM-expressing Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in an intra-abdominal infection-induced sepsis patient: a case report

Infections in critically-ill patients caused by extensively-drug-resistant (XDR)-Pseudomonas aeruginosa are challenging to manage due to paucity of effective treatment options. Cefepime/zidebactam, which is currently in global Phase 3 clinical development (Clinical Trials Identifier: NCT04979806, registered on July 28, 2021) is a novel mechanism of action based β-lactam/ β-lactam-enhancer combination with a promising activity against a broad-range of Gram-negative pathogens including XDR P. aeruginosa. We present a case report of an intra-abdominal infection-induced sepsis patient infected with XDR P. aeruginosa and successfully treated with cefepime/zidebactam under compassionate use. The 50 year old female patient with past-history of bariatric surgery and recent elective abdominoplasty and liposuction developed secondary pneumonia and failed a prolonged course of polymyxins. The organism repeatedly isolated from the patient was a New-Delhi metallo β-lactamase-producing XDR P. aeruginosa resistant to ceftazidime/avibactam, imipenem/relebactam and ceftolozane/tazobactam, susceptible only to cefepime/zidebactam. As polymyxins failed to rescue the patient, cefepime/zidebactam was administered under compassionate grounds leading to discharge of patient in stable condition. The present case highlights the prevailing precarious scenario of antimicrobial resistance and the need for novel antibiotics to tackle infections caused by XDR phenotype pathogens. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12941-023-00606-x.