Intrapulmonary pharmacokinetic profile of cefiderocol in mechanically ventilated patients with pneumonia

OBJECTIVES: Lung penetration of cefiderocol, a novel siderophore cephalosporin approved for treatment of nosocomial pneumonia, has previously been evaluated in healthy subjects. This study assessed the intrapulmonary pharmacokinetic profile of cefiderocol at steady state in hospitalized, mechanically ventilated pneumonia patients. METHODS: Patients received cefiderocol 2 g (or ≤1.5 g if renally impaired), administered IV q8h as a 3 h infusion, or 2 g q6h if patients had augmented renal function (estimated CL(CR) > 120 mL/min). After multiple doses, each patient underwent a single bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) procedure either at the end of the infusion or at 2 h after the end of infusion. Plasma samples were collected at 1, 3, 5 and 7 h after the start of infusion. After correcting for BAL dilution, cefiderocol concentrations in epithelial lining fluid (ELF) for each patient and the ELF/unbound plasma concentration ratio (R(C, E/P)) were calculated. Safety was assessed up to 7 days after the last cefiderocol dose. RESULTS: Seven patients received cefiderocol. Geometric mean ELF concentration of cefiderocol was 7.63 mg/L at the end of infusion and 10.40 mg/L at 2 h after the end of infusion. R(C, E/P) was 0.212 at the end of infusion and 0.547 at 2 h after the end of infusion, suggesting delayed lung distribution. There were no adverse drug reactions. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that cefiderocol penetrates the ELF in critically ill pneumonia patients with concentrations that are sufficient to treat Gram-negative bacteria with an MIC of ≤4 mg/L.