Design and Validation of a Simplified Method to Determine Minimum Bactericidal Concentration in Nontuberculous Mycobacteria

Background/Objectives: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections are rising, particularly those by <i>Mycobacterium avium</i> complex (MAC) and <i>Mycobacterium abscessus</i> complex (MAB). Treating NTM infections is challenging due to their poor response to antibiotics. T...

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Main Authors: Sara Batista, Mariana Fernández-Pittol, Lorena San Nicolás, Diego Martínez, Sofía Narváez, Mateu Espasa, Elena Garcia Losilla, Marc Rubio, Montserrat Garrigo, Griselda Tudó, Julian González-Martin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Antibiotics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/14/4/381
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author Sara Batista
Mariana Fernández-Pittol
Lorena San Nicolás
Diego Martínez
Sofía Narváez
Mateu Espasa
Elena Garcia Losilla
Marc Rubio
Montserrat Garrigo
Griselda Tudó
Julian González-Martin
author_facet Sara Batista
Mariana Fernández-Pittol
Lorena San Nicolás
Diego Martínez
Sofía Narváez
Mateu Espasa
Elena Garcia Losilla
Marc Rubio
Montserrat Garrigo
Griselda Tudó
Julian González-Martin
author_sort Sara Batista
collection DOAJ
description Background/Objectives: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections are rising, particularly those by <i>Mycobacterium avium</i> complex (MAC) and <i>Mycobacterium abscessus</i> complex (MAB). Treating NTM infections is challenging due to their poor response to antibiotics. This study aimed to optimize the treatment of NTM infection by selecting antibiotics with bactericidal activity for combination therapy. To do this, we used the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) determination approach to define bactericidal or bacteriostatic activity. We developed three main objectives: validate a new method to determine MBC based on a reincubation method, determine MBC values of 229 NTM clinical isolates using the reincubation method, and evaluate antibiotic stability in preincubated microtiter plates. Methods: First, we assessed the stability of the antibiotics included in SLOWMYCOI Sensititre™ microtiter plates. Five strains of MAC were studied comparing the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of those preincubated for seven days vs. non-incubated plates. Then, we evaluated the percentage of reproducibility of MBC values using two methods, reincubation and subculturing (standard or traditional method) in 30 MAC isolates. Finally, we validated the reincubation method and prospectively determined the MBC values of the 229 NTM clinical strains. Results: Antibiotic stability: The MIC was equivalent after 7 and 14 days for all the antibiotics, except rifampicin, for which the MIC increased by 2- to 3-fold after preincubation. Reincubation method: The percentage of reproducibility of the MBC values between the two methods was 95.2% (range 76.6% to 100%). Prospective validation: MBC/MIC ratios revealed differential bactericidal activity for most antibiotics according to the different species, being bactericidal in <i>M. avium</i> and <i>Mycobacterium xenopi</i>, and predominantly bacteriostatic in MAB. Conclusions: Preincubation of Sensititre™ microtiter plates did not alter the MIC values of the antibiotics included except for rifampicin, suggesting a loss of activity. MBC determination can be easily performed by the Reincubation method presented. MBC values provide useful additional information regarding MIC values since the MBC/MIC ratio reveals whether antibiotics have bactericidal or bacteriostatic activity according to the species, which is pivotal for selecting the most adequate antibiotic combination to ensure efficient treatment management.
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spelling doaj-art-ca67090385ef417e9823a420bc07cee72025-08-20T02:24:39ZengMDPI AGAntibiotics2079-63822025-04-0114438110.3390/antibiotics14040381Design and Validation of a Simplified Method to Determine Minimum Bactericidal Concentration in Nontuberculous MycobacteriaSara Batista0Mariana Fernández-Pittol1Lorena San Nicolás2Diego Martínez3Sofía Narváez4Mateu Espasa5Elena Garcia Losilla6Marc Rubio7Montserrat Garrigo8Griselda Tudó9Julian González-Martin10Unitat de Microbiologia, Departament de Fonaments Clínics, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, c/Casanova 143, 08036 Barcelona, SpainUnitat de Microbiologia, Departament de Fonaments Clínics, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, c/Casanova 143, 08036 Barcelona, SpainServei de Microbiologia, CDB, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, c/Villarroel 170, 08036 Barcelona, SpainServei de Microbiologia, CDB, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, c/Villarroel 170, 08036 Barcelona, SpainCatlab, Centre Analítiques Terrassa AIE, Servei de Microbiologia Vallès Occidental, Parc Logístic de Salut, Viladecavalls, 08232 Terrassa, SpainUnitat de Microbiologia, Departament de Fonaments Clínics, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, c/Casanova 143, 08036 Barcelona, SpainServei de Microbiologia, Fundació de Gestió de l’Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, 08025 Barcelona, SpainServei de Microbiologia, Fundació de Gestió de l’Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, 08025 Barcelona, SpainServei de Microbiologia, Fundació de Gestió de l’Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, 08025 Barcelona, SpainUnitat de Microbiologia, Departament de Fonaments Clínics, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, c/Casanova 143, 08036 Barcelona, SpainUnitat de Microbiologia, Departament de Fonaments Clínics, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat de Barcelona, c/Casanova 143, 08036 Barcelona, SpainBackground/Objectives: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections are rising, particularly those by <i>Mycobacterium avium</i> complex (MAC) and <i>Mycobacterium abscessus</i> complex (MAB). Treating NTM infections is challenging due to their poor response to antibiotics. This study aimed to optimize the treatment of NTM infection by selecting antibiotics with bactericidal activity for combination therapy. To do this, we used the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) determination approach to define bactericidal or bacteriostatic activity. We developed three main objectives: validate a new method to determine MBC based on a reincubation method, determine MBC values of 229 NTM clinical isolates using the reincubation method, and evaluate antibiotic stability in preincubated microtiter plates. Methods: First, we assessed the stability of the antibiotics included in SLOWMYCOI Sensititre™ microtiter plates. Five strains of MAC were studied comparing the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of those preincubated for seven days vs. non-incubated plates. Then, we evaluated the percentage of reproducibility of MBC values using two methods, reincubation and subculturing (standard or traditional method) in 30 MAC isolates. Finally, we validated the reincubation method and prospectively determined the MBC values of the 229 NTM clinical strains. Results: Antibiotic stability: The MIC was equivalent after 7 and 14 days for all the antibiotics, except rifampicin, for which the MIC increased by 2- to 3-fold after preincubation. Reincubation method: The percentage of reproducibility of the MBC values between the two methods was 95.2% (range 76.6% to 100%). Prospective validation: MBC/MIC ratios revealed differential bactericidal activity for most antibiotics according to the different species, being bactericidal in <i>M. avium</i> and <i>Mycobacterium xenopi</i>, and predominantly bacteriostatic in MAB. Conclusions: Preincubation of Sensititre™ microtiter plates did not alter the MIC values of the antibiotics included except for rifampicin, suggesting a loss of activity. MBC determination can be easily performed by the Reincubation method presented. MBC values provide useful additional information regarding MIC values since the MBC/MIC ratio reveals whether antibiotics have bactericidal or bacteriostatic activity according to the species, which is pivotal for selecting the most adequate antibiotic combination to ensure efficient treatment management.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/14/4/381nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM)reincubation methodsubculturing methodSLOMYCOI Sensititreantibioticsminimum bactericidal concentration (MBC)
spellingShingle Sara Batista
Mariana Fernández-Pittol
Lorena San Nicolás
Diego Martínez
Sofía Narváez
Mateu Espasa
Elena Garcia Losilla
Marc Rubio
Montserrat Garrigo
Griselda Tudó
Julian González-Martin
Design and Validation of a Simplified Method to Determine Minimum Bactericidal Concentration in Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
Antibiotics
nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM)
reincubation method
subculturing method
SLOMYCOI Sensititre
antibiotics
minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC)
title Design and Validation of a Simplified Method to Determine Minimum Bactericidal Concentration in Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
title_full Design and Validation of a Simplified Method to Determine Minimum Bactericidal Concentration in Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
title_fullStr Design and Validation of a Simplified Method to Determine Minimum Bactericidal Concentration in Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
title_full_unstemmed Design and Validation of a Simplified Method to Determine Minimum Bactericidal Concentration in Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
title_short Design and Validation of a Simplified Method to Determine Minimum Bactericidal Concentration in Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
title_sort design and validation of a simplified method to determine minimum bactericidal concentration in nontuberculous mycobacteria
topic nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM)
reincubation method
subculturing method
SLOMYCOI Sensititre
antibiotics
minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC)
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/14/4/381
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