The importance of monitoring a new antibiotic: ceftazidime/avibactam usage and resistance experience from England, 2016 to 2020

Background Ceftazidime/avibactam, launched in the United Kingdom (UK) in March 2017, is an antibiotic against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens. It was selected for the government’s subscription model pilot, for incentivising new antibiotic development, which began in December 2020. Aim Ah...

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Main Author: Berit Muller-Pebody
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control 2025-04-01
Series:Eurosurveillance
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Online Access:https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.14.2400399
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author Berit Muller-Pebody
author_facet Berit Muller-Pebody
author_sort Berit Muller-Pebody
collection DOAJ
description Background Ceftazidime/avibactam, launched in the United Kingdom (UK) in March 2017, is an antibiotic against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens. It was selected for the government’s subscription model pilot, for incentivising new antibiotic development, which began in December 2020. Aim Ahead of the pilot, we assessed ceftazidime/avibactam testing, resistance (2016−2020) and usage (2017−2020) levels in England, as baselines for future surveillance. Methods From routine surveillance samples, we retrieved reported ceftazidime/avibactam resistance categorisation. From reference laboratory samples, we reviewed minimum inhibitory concentration (MICs) and molecular data. Among surveillance samples, per cent resistance was estimated. Referred samples’ MICs, by carbapenemase gene presence, were investigated. Ceftazidime/avibactam hospital use was measured in defined daily doses (DDDs). Results Overall, 6.3% (4,200/66,914; 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 6.1–6.4%) of surveillance-reported ceftazidime/avibactam-tested Gram-negative bacteria were resistant. Percentage resistance per bacterial species varied over time, somewhat stabilising as testing was established, with between April 2019 and March 2020, 1.3% Escherichia coli (288/22,736; 95%CI: 1.1−1.4%), 12.6% Pseudomonas aeruginosa (690/5,495; 95%CI: 11.7−13.5%) and 6.1% of Klebsiella pneumoniae (314/5,179; 95%CI: 5.4−6.7%) being resistant. For 8,437 referred Enterobacterales, MIC determination found 11.5% (968/8,437; 95%CI: 10.8–12.2%) resistant. Among resistant isolates, 89.3% (864/968; 95%CI: 87.1–91.1%) had metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) genes. Of 908 MBL-negative isolates, producing ≥ 1 non-metallo-carbapenemase(s), 2.1% (19/908; 95%CI: 1.3–3.2%) were resistant. Since March 2017, 69.5% (105/151) of English National Health Service Trusts used ceftazidime/avibactam. Monthly usage progressed from 21 to 744 DDDs in March 2020. Conclusion For appropriate treatment, carbapenemase gene detection and variant identification in ceftazidime/avibactam surveillance matters. Detecting emerging resistant pathogens and preventing spread within healthcare settings requires vigilance.
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spelling doaj-art-a4e82a3506a343999f45f109bc8187962025-08-20T02:16:34ZengEuropean Centre for Disease Prevention and ControlEurosurveillance1560-79172025-04-01301410.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.14.2400399http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/eurosurveillance/30/14The importance of monitoring a new antibiotic: ceftazidime/avibactam usage and resistance experience from England, 2016 to 2020Berit Muller-Pebody0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8874-480XAMR & HCAI Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, United KingdomBackground Ceftazidime/avibactam, launched in the United Kingdom (UK) in March 2017, is an antibiotic against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens. It was selected for the government’s subscription model pilot, for incentivising new antibiotic development, which began in December 2020. Aim Ahead of the pilot, we assessed ceftazidime/avibactam testing, resistance (2016−2020) and usage (2017−2020) levels in England, as baselines for future surveillance. Methods From routine surveillance samples, we retrieved reported ceftazidime/avibactam resistance categorisation. From reference laboratory samples, we reviewed minimum inhibitory concentration (MICs) and molecular data. Among surveillance samples, per cent resistance was estimated. Referred samples’ MICs, by carbapenemase gene presence, were investigated. Ceftazidime/avibactam hospital use was measured in defined daily doses (DDDs). Results Overall, 6.3% (4,200/66,914; 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 6.1–6.4%) of surveillance-reported ceftazidime/avibactam-tested Gram-negative bacteria were resistant. Percentage resistance per bacterial species varied over time, somewhat stabilising as testing was established, with between April 2019 and March 2020, 1.3% Escherichia coli (288/22,736; 95%CI: 1.1−1.4%), 12.6% Pseudomonas aeruginosa (690/5,495; 95%CI: 11.7−13.5%) and 6.1% of Klebsiella pneumoniae (314/5,179; 95%CI: 5.4−6.7%) being resistant. For 8,437 referred Enterobacterales, MIC determination found 11.5% (968/8,437; 95%CI: 10.8–12.2%) resistant. Among resistant isolates, 89.3% (864/968; 95%CI: 87.1–91.1%) had metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) genes. Of 908 MBL-negative isolates, producing ≥ 1 non-metallo-carbapenemase(s), 2.1% (19/908; 95%CI: 1.3–3.2%) were resistant. Since March 2017, 69.5% (105/151) of English National Health Service Trusts used ceftazidime/avibactam. Monthly usage progressed from 21 to 744 DDDs in March 2020. Conclusion For appropriate treatment, carbapenemase gene detection and variant identification in ceftazidime/avibactam surveillance matters. Detecting emerging resistant pathogens and preventing spread within healthcare settings requires vigilance.https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.14.2400399ceftazidime/avibactamEnterobacteralesAMRcarbapenemaseAMUAMS
spellingShingle Berit Muller-Pebody
The importance of monitoring a new antibiotic: ceftazidime/avibactam usage and resistance experience from England, 2016 to 2020
Eurosurveillance
ceftazidime/avibactam
Enterobacterales
AMR
carbapenemase
AMU
AMS
title The importance of monitoring a new antibiotic: ceftazidime/avibactam usage and resistance experience from England, 2016 to 2020
title_full The importance of monitoring a new antibiotic: ceftazidime/avibactam usage and resistance experience from England, 2016 to 2020
title_fullStr The importance of monitoring a new antibiotic: ceftazidime/avibactam usage and resistance experience from England, 2016 to 2020
title_full_unstemmed The importance of monitoring a new antibiotic: ceftazidime/avibactam usage and resistance experience from England, 2016 to 2020
title_short The importance of monitoring a new antibiotic: ceftazidime/avibactam usage and resistance experience from England, 2016 to 2020
title_sort importance of monitoring a new antibiotic ceftazidime avibactam usage and resistance experience from england 2016 to 2020
topic ceftazidime/avibactam
Enterobacterales
AMR
carbapenemase
AMU
AMS
url https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.14.2400399
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