Optical Molecular Diagnostics and System Technology

Objectives: We assessed the efficacy and safety of an oral antimicrobial regimen for short- and long-term intestinal eradication of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-EC/KP) in immunocompromised patients. Methods: We performed a randomized (2:1), double-blind multicentre Phase II study in four haematology–oncology departments. Patients colonized with ESBL-EC/KP received a 7 day antimicrobial regimen of oral colistin (2%106 IU 4%/day), gentamicin (80mg 4%/day) and fosfomycin (three administrations of 3 g every 72 h), or placebo. Faecal, throat and urine specimens were collected on day 0, 6+2, 11+2, 28+4 and 42+4 after treatment initiation, and the quantitative burden of ESBL-EC/KP, resistance genes and changes in intestinal microbiota were analysed. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01931592. Results: As the manufacture of colistin powder was suspended worldwide, the study was terminated prematurely. Overall, 29 (18 verum/11 placebo) out of 47 patients were enrolled. The short-term intestinal eradication was marginal at day 6 (verum group 15/18, 83.3% versus placebo 2/11, 18.2%; relative risk 4.58, 95% CI 1.29–16.33; Fisher’s exact test P"0.001) and not evident at later timepoints. Quantitative analysis showed a significant decrease of intestinal ESBL-EC/KP burden on day 6. Sustained intestinal eradication (day 28!42) was not achieved (verum, 38.9% versus placebo, 27.3%; P"0.299). In the verum group, mcr-1 genes were detected in two faecal samples collected after treatment. Microbiome analysis showed a significant decrease in alpha diversity and a shift in beta diversity. Conclusions: In this prematurely terminated study of a 7 day oral antimicrobial eradication regimen, short-term ESBL-EC/KP suppression was marginal, while an altered intestinal microbiota composition was clearly apparent.