Meropenem-Clavulanic Acid Has High In Vitro Activity against Multidrug-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis

We investigated the activity of meropenem-clavulanic acid (MEM-CLA) against 68 Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates. We included predominantly multi- and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/XDR-TB) isolates, since the activity of MEM-CLA for resistant isolates has previously not been studied extensively. Using Middlebrook 7H10 medium, all but four isolates showed an MIC distribution of 0.125 to 2 mg/liter for MEM-CLA, below the non-species-related breakpoint for MEM of 2 mg/liter defined by EUCAST. MEM-CLA is a potential treatment option for MDR/XDR-TB.