A recent study conducted by the University of Liverpool has made significant progress in understanding antimicrobial resistance (AMR), particularly in hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). AMR, also known as antibiotic resistance, is a growing global concern, but there is limited knowledge on how to administer antibiotics to minimize the development of resistance in patients. The University of Liverpool is actively contributing to international efforts to address this issue.
In a research paper titled “Molecular pharmacodynamics of meropenem for nosocomial pneumonia caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa,” published in mBio, Dr. Christopher Darlow from the Antimicrobial Pharmacology & Therapeutics (APT) group at the University of Liverpool presented a new experimental animal model for HAP. This model was used to test the effects of meropenem, a commonly used antibiotic for HAP, and to study the emergence of resistance to the drug.
Hospital-acquired pneumonia is a common infection that accounts for approximately 10% of deaths in hospitals. Due to the specific bacteria causing HAP and the large bacterial load in the lungs during the infection, the development of antibiotic resistance is quite common. This is primarily because the dosage of antibiotics is determined by drug developers to effectively treat HAP, without considering the dosage required to prevent resistance.
The APT group, led by Dr. Darlow, developed a new experimental model for HAP and used it to assess the impact of meropenem. This model enabled them to measure the amount of bacteria in the lungs as the antibiotic was administered and to identify the emergence of resistance by studying the mutations in the bacteria’s genes that drive resistance.
The study found that low doses of meropenem effectively treated HAP but also led to a higher emergence of resistance. Conversely, resistance could be reduced by increasing the meropenem dosage or by administering a second antibiotic, such as amikacin, concurrently. Both strategies could be employed in clinical settings to minimize antimicrobial resistance. The research also shed light on the mechanisms underlying bacterial mutation and adaptation to develop resistance.
Dr. Darlow stated, “Through this work, we have highlighted the issue of resistance development in HAP when treated with meropenem and demonstrated potential strategies to prevent it, such as increasing the meropenem dosage or using a second antibiotic in combination.”
Besides its implications for HAP, this study also introduces a new experimental platform for evaluating the potential of both new and existing antibiotics to induce resistance and identifying strategies to mitigate this risk. The researchers aim to leverage this platform in future studies focused on improving antibiotic use and preventing antibiotic resistance in other bacterial infections.
In conclusion, the University of Liverpool’s research offers promising steps towards better understanding and combating antibiotic resistance in the treatment of pneumonia. By identifying strategies to prevent resistance development, such as optimizing dosage or using combination therapy, this study contributes to the global efforts to address the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
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