Synergistic Rifabutin and Colistin Reduce Emergence of Resistance When Treating Acinetobacter baumannii

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2021 Mar 18;65(4):e02204-20. doi: 10.1128/AAC.02204-20. Print 2021 Mar 18.

Abstract

Recently, we reported rifabutin hyperactivity against Acinetobacter baumannii We sought to characterize potential interactions between rifabutin and colistin, the last-resort drug for carbapenem-resistant infections. Rifabutin and colistin were synergistic in vitro and in vivo, and low-dose colistin significantly suppressed emergence of resistance to rifabutin. Thus, this combination is a promising therapeutic option for highly resistant A. baumannii infections.

Keywords: Acinetobacter baumannii; antibiotic resistance; colistin; rifabutin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Acinetobacter Infections* / drug therapy
  • Acinetobacter baumannii*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Colistin / pharmacology
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / genetics
  • Drug Synergism
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Rifabutin / pharmacology
  • Rifabutin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Rifabutin
  • Colistin