Therapeutic strategy for pandrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae severe infections: short-course treatment with colistin increases the in vivo and in vitro activity of double carbapenem regimen

Infections due to carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae represent an emerging threat due to the high mortality rate and lack of valid antimicrobial combinations, especially when the strain is colistin-resistant. We report a case of bloodstream infection due to pandrug-resistant K. pneumoniae treated successfully with an innovative regimen comprising a combination of colistin plus double carbapenem, along with an in vitro analysis showing the synergistic and bactericidal effect. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases.