The Feasibility of Ceftolozane/Tazobactam Continuous Infusion for Exacerbations of Cystic Fibrosis and Bronchiectasis Treated in an Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy (OPAT) Setting

For patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF bronchiectasis, chronic airway infection with Gram-negative organisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia complex species (BCC) is highly challenging to treat and associated with significant morbidity and mortality. These organisms are naturally resistant towards many antibiotic classes, limiting the available arsenal of effective antibiotics for their treatment and eradication. Therefore, there is a pressing need for new antimicrobial therapy options for infective exacerbations associated with these organisms.

There are clear logistical and financial benefits for acute infective exacerbations of CF and non-CF bronchiectasis to be managed on OPAT programs. Many acute infective exacerbations can be safely managed in this way, and a substantial body of evidence supports non-inferiority of OPAT compared with inpatient care. From a logistical perspective, feasibility of OPAT programs is greatly improved by antibiotics being infused over a 24-hour period rather than via bolus several times per day. Unfortunately, many mainstay anti-pseudomonal and anti-Burkholderia antibiotics (including meropenem, imipenem and ceftazidime) are not stable for 24 hours at room/body temperature therefore are unsuitable for use on OPAT.

This study aims to assess viability of ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T) administered via OPAT in adult patients with exacerbations of CF or non-CF bronchiectasis. Secondary aims are to describe clinical outcomes of patients receiving C/T, tolerability of C/T, relative sputum bacterial load throughout treatment and assess development of resistance to C/T and other antibiotics. We aim to recruit 30 patients, colonized with either pseudomonas aeruginosa or burkholderia cepacia complex, with a current infectious exacerbation requiring intravenous antibiotic treatment. We propose to administer C/T via infusion for 10-14 days with review at day 0-3, 5-7 and 10-14. Blood testing, sputum testing, lung function testing, administration of CF- and bronchiectasis-specific questionnaires and adverse event reporting will be carried out at these times. Serum levels of C/T will be monitored using a validated assay. Clinical review at day 28-42 will be carried out to assess for recrudescence of symptoms and further need for antibiotics and a follow-up phone call will be made at 3 months to assess whether any further antibiotics were needed for new/recrudescent symptoms of infection.

We expect to find that C/T is safe, well-tolerated and effective in treating infective exacerbations of bronchiectasis in OPAT settings. We expect to find that bacterial density in sputum samples reduces over the course of treatment, and that development of antimicrobial resistance is minimal.