Meropenem/vaborbactam: a next generation β-lactam β-lactamase inhibitor combination

Introduction: infections due to carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) constitute a worldwide threat and are associated with significant mortality, especially in fragile patients, and costs. Meropenem-vaborbactam (M/V) is a combination of a group 2 carbapenem with a novel cyclic boronic acid-based beta-lactamase inhibitor which has shown good efficacy against KPC carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, which are amongst the most prevalent types of CRE. Areas covered: This article reviews the microbiological and pharmacological profile and current clinical experience and safety of M/V in the treatment of infections caused by CRE. Expert opinion: M/V is a promising drug for the treatment of infections due to KPC-producing CRE (KPC-CRE). It exhibited an almost complete coverage of KPC-CRE isolates from large surveillance studies and a low propensity for resistance selection, retaining activity also against strains producing KPC mutants resistant to ceftazidime-avibactam. Both meropenem and vaborbactam have a favorable pharmacokinetic profile, with similar kinetic properties, a good intrapulmonary penetration, and are efficiently cleared during continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH). According to available data, M/V monotherapy is associated with higher clinical cure rates and lower rates of adverse events, especially in terms of nephrotoxicity, if compared to 'older' combination therapies.