Summary Background Until now, polymyxin resistance has involved chromosomal mutations but has never been reported via horizontal gene transfer. During a routine surveillance project on antimicrobial ...resistance in commensal Escherichia coli from food animals in China, a major increase of colistin resistance was observed. When an E coli strain, SHP45, possessing colistin resistance that could be transferred to another strain, was isolated from a pig, we conducted further analysis of possible plasmid-mediated polymyxin resistance. Herein, we report the emergence of the first plasmid-mediated polymyxin resistance mechanism, MCR-1, in Enterobacteriaceae. Methods The mcr-1 gene in E coli strain SHP45 was identified by whole plasmid sequencing and subcloning. MCR-1 mechanistic studies were done with sequence comparisons, homology modelling, and electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry. The prevalence of mcr-1 was investigated in E coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae strains collected from five provinces between April, 2011, and November, 2014. The ability of MCR-1 to confer polymyxin resistance in vivo was examined in a murine thigh model. Findings Polymyxin resistance was shown to be singularly due to the plasmid-mediated mcr-1 gene. The plasmid carrying mcr-1 was mobilised to an E coli recipient at a frequency of 10−1 to 10−3 cells per recipient cell by conjugation, and maintained in K pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . In an in-vivo model, production of MCR-1 negated the efficacy of colistin. MCR-1 is a member of the phosphoethanolamine transferase enzyme family, with expression in E coli resulting in the addition of phosphoethanolamine to lipid A. We observed mcr-1 carriage in E coli isolates collected from 78 (15%) of 523 samples of raw meat and 166 (21%) of 804 animals during 2011–14, and 16 (1%) of 1322 samples from inpatients with infection. Interpretation The emergence of MCR-1 heralds the breach of the last group of antibiotics, polymyxins, by plasmid-mediated resistance. Although currently confined to China, MCR-1 is likely to emulate other global resistance mechanisms such as NDM-1. Our findings emphasise the urgent need for coordinated global action in the fight against pan-drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Funding Ministry of Science and Technology of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China.
Abstract Purpose Levornidazole, the levo-isomer of ornidazole, is a third-generation nitroimidazole derivative newly developed after metronidazole, tinidazole, and ornidazole. An open-label, ...parallel-controlled, single-dose study was conducted for the investigation of the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of levornidazole and its metabolites in healthy elderly Chinese subjects, and for the evaluation of 2 dosing regimens in the elderly. Methods Levornidazole was intravenously administered at 500 mg to healthy elderly (aged 60–80 years) or young subjects (aged 19–45 years). The PK profiles of levornidazole and its metabolites in elderly subjects were evaluated and compared with those in the young group. WinNonlin software was used for simulating the PK profile of levornidazole in the elderly population following the dosing regimens of 500 mg BID and 750 mg once daily for 7 days. Monte Carlo simulation was used for estimating the cumulative fraction of response and probability of target attainment of both dosing regimens against Bacteroides spp. Results The Cmax , AUC0–24, and AUC0–∞ values of levornidazole in the elderly group were 11.98 μg/mL, 131.36 μg·h/mL, and 173.61 μg·h/mL, respectively. The t1/2 , CLt , and mean residence time from time 0 to infinity were 12.21 hours, 2.91 L/h, and 16.46 hours. The metabolic ratios of metabolites (M) 1, 2, 4, and 6 were <3.0%, and that of M16 was 17.70%. The urinary excretion values of levornidazole, M1, M2, M4, M6, and M16 over 96 hours were 10.21%, 0.92%, ~0%, 2.69%, 0.54%, and 41.98%. The PK properties of levornidazole and the urinary excretion of all metabolites were not statistically different between the 2 groups. The cumulative fraction of response was >90% against B fragilis and other Bacteroides spp, and the probability of target attainment was >90% when the minimum inhibitory concentration was ≤1 μg/mL, in both groups. Implications No dosing regimen adjustment is suggested when levornidazole is used in elderly patients with normal hepatic functioning and mild renal dysfunction. The findings from the PK/PD analysis imply that both regimens may achieve satisfactory clinical and microbiological efficacy against anaerobic infections in elderly patients. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( http://www.chictr.org.cn ) identifier: ChiCTR-OPC-16007938.
