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Pharmacokinetics of Ceftolozane/Tazobactam in Plasma and Cerebrospinal Fluid

A Prospective Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of the Plasma and Cerebrospinal Fluid Concentrations of a Single Dose Ceftolozane/Tazobactam in Infected Critically Ill Patients With an Indwelling External Ventricular Drain

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 1Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03309657
Enrollment
10
Registered
2017-10-13
Start date
2018-02-01
Completion date
2020-06-01
Last updated
2020-09-10

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Pharmacokinetics

Brief summary

Ceftolozane/tazobactam is an emerging newly available antibiotic that has a broad spectrum of activity, and could be potentially useful in the management of central nervous system infections. However, data relating to penetration of ceftolozane/ tazobactam into the central nervous system, where a barrier against drug distribution exists (i.e. blood brain barrier), is currently limited. In critically ill patients this is all the more challenging as achieving adequate antibiotic concentrations even in blood is difficult. The aim of this study is to describe the concentrations achieved in the cerebrospinal fluid (i.e. bodily fluid found surrounding and inside of the brain) and blood after a single dose of ceftolozane/tazobactam administered in critically ill patients with an existing external ventricular drain (i.e. a device used in neurosurgery that relieves elevated intracranial pressure in the brain). It is planned that this information gained will help develop dosing strategies that will achieve target concentrations that will successfully treat central nervous system infections in the future.

Detailed description

Although relatively less frequent, Gram negative nosocomial meningitis and ventriculitis are observed in critical care settings, often associated with brain trauma, brain surgery, spinal fluid shunt after brain surgery, spinal abnormalities or severe urinary tract infections with bacteraemia. Gram negative meningitis is particularly challenging for treatment, when reduced susceptibility of some of the common etiologic bacteria is encountered (e.g. Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aerogenes). Furthermore, the presence of the blood brain barrier (BBB) has meant that the choice of systemic antibiotics is very restricted due to the limited ability of many antibiotics to achieve adequate concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The poor CSF penetration may also contribute to an accelerated rate of the emergence of resistant pathogens in some patients/units. A significant proportion of Gram negative bacilli clinical isolates (from patients with meningitis) are resistant to broad spectrum antibiotics such as the third or later generation cephalosporins. With the wide spread use of these antibiotics, the incidence of resistant nosocomial infections has increased. Thus, there is an acute need for novel antibiotics that can achieve adequate concentrations in the CSF, while exhibiting an excellent spectrum of activity. Ceftolozane/tazobactam is an emerging newly available antibiotic that has a broad spectrum of activity, and could be potentially useful in the management of Gram negative meningitis. As compared to other commonly used beta lactam antibiotics, it exhibits superior antibacterial activity against difficult to treat Gram negative organisms, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae spp. It is relatively stable against various resistance mechanisms encountered by other beta lactams, and may be useful in the treatment of multi-drug resistant (MDR) infections. However, data relating to CSF penetration is limited. In the critically ill, achieving adequate antibiotic exposure, especially against the high MIC of some Gram negatives (e.g. Pseudomonas), is difficult even in plasma, let alone in CSF for which a distribution barrier (i.e. BBB) exists. Thus, it is prudent to investigate the CSF pharmacokinetics of this new drug before it is used 'off label' by clinicians without supportive data. This study will describe the plasma and CSF pharmacokinetics of a 3.0 g dose of ceftolozane/tazobactam in critically ill patients with an indwelling external ventricular drain (EVD). We will use a population pharmacokinetics approach to determine if altered dosing or alternative modes of administration, such as prolonged infusion, should be considered to improve plasma exposure. Given that direct administration into the CSF (e.g. intraventricular route) is not only invasive but also may risk neurotoxicity, pharmacokinetic studies should explore the extent of drug distribution into CSF with systemic administration. There is no clinical data on the CSF penetration of ceftolozane/tazobactam in critically ill patients at the moment, and as such, this is a highly valuable study. Aim of the study is to describe the pharmacokinetics of a single dose of ceftolozane/tazobactam in the plasma and CSF of critically ill patients with an indwelling EVD. The study investigators hypothesise: The plasma PK of cefolozane/tazobactam may be altered in critically ill patients with an indwelling EVD. The distribution of ceftolozane/tazobactam into the CSF may be impaired by the blood brain barrier.

Interventions

This is an observational pharmacokinetic study whereby patients received a single dose of ceftolozane/tazobactam and plasma and cerebrospinal fluid samples were subsequently collected and analyzed to described the pharmacokinetics.

Sponsors

The University of Queensland
CollaboratorOTHER
Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER_GOV

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Open label pharmacokinetic study where enrolled critically ill patients with infection receive a single dose of ceftolozane-tazobactam (in addition to other active therapy).

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Patients with any infection requiring treatment with ceftolozane/tazobactam and who have met the following criteria: * Age \>18 years * The presence of an indwelling external ventricular drain (EVD) or requiring EVD insertion due to obstructive hydrocephalus/subarachnoid haemorrhage

Exclusion criteria

* Known or suspected allergy to penicillins and cephalosporins * Pregnancy * Receiving renal replacement therapy * Glomerular filtration rate less than 10 mL/min * Receiving piperacillin/tazobactam or having received piperacillin/tazobactam in the past 7 days before enrolment

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Unbound Ceftolozane Exposure in the PlasmaSamples collected from 0 to 8 hours post dose at 0, 1, 2,4,6, & 8 h post dose were use estimate area under the curve from time zero to infinity estimated by non-compartmental analysisUnbound Ceftolozane Exposure in the plasma given by the area under the unbound concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC0-inf).
Unbound Tazobactam Exposure in the PlasmaSamples collected from 0 to 8 hours post dose at 0, 1, 2,4,6, & 8 h post dose were use estimate area under the curve from time zero to infinity estimated by non-compartmental analysisUnbound Tazobactam Exposure in the plasma given by the area under the unbound concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC0-inf).
Unbound Ceftolozane Exposure in the CSFSamples collected from 0 to 8 hours post dose at 0, 1, 2,4,6, & 8 h post dose were use estimate area under the curve from time zero to infinity estimated by non-compartmental analysisUnbound Ceftolozane Exposure in the CSF given by the area under the unbound concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC0-inf).
Unbound Tazobactam Exposure in the CSFSamples collected from 0 to 8 hours post dose at 0, 1, 2,4,6, & 8 h post dose were use estimate area under the curve from time zero to infinity estimated by non-compartmental analysisUnbound Tazobactam Exposure in the CSF given by the area under the unbound concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC0-inf).

Countries

Australia

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Ceftolozane Tazobactam
Infected patients with external intraventricular drain will receive a single dose of Ceftolozane/ tazobactam (3000mg) over 1 hour and will undergo blood , csf and urine sampling at specific times over an 8 hour period. Ceftolozane/tazobactam: IV ceftolozane 2000mg /tazobactam 1000mg once only
10
Total10

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicCeftolozane Tazobactam
Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II17.5 units on a scale
Age, Continuous60.5 years
Albumin24 g/L
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected— Participants
Region of Enrollment
Australia
10 participants
Serum Creatinine48.5 micro-mole/litre
Sex: Female, Male
Female
7 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
3 Participants
Weight75 kg

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 10
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 10
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 10

Outcome results

Primary

Unbound Ceftolozane Exposure in the CSF

Unbound Ceftolozane Exposure in the CSF given by the area under the unbound concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC0-inf).

Time frame: Samples collected from 0 to 8 hours post dose at 0, 1, 2,4,6, & 8 h post dose were use estimate area under the curve from time zero to infinity estimated by non-compartmental analysis

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Ceftolozane TazobactamUnbound Ceftolozane Exposure in the CSF30.2 mg*h/L
Primary

Unbound Ceftolozane Exposure in the Plasma

Unbound Ceftolozane Exposure in the plasma given by the area under the unbound concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC0-inf).

Time frame: Samples collected from 0 to 8 hours post dose at 0, 1, 2,4,6, & 8 h post dose were use estimate area under the curve from time zero to infinity estimated by non-compartmental analysis

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Ceftolozane TazobactamUnbound Ceftolozane Exposure in the Plasma322.6 mg*h/L
Primary

Unbound Tazobactam Exposure in the CSF

Unbound Tazobactam Exposure in the CSF given by the area under the unbound concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC0-inf).

Time frame: Samples collected from 0 to 8 hours post dose at 0, 1, 2,4,6, & 8 h post dose were use estimate area under the curve from time zero to infinity estimated by non-compartmental analysis

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Ceftolozane TazobactamUnbound Tazobactam Exposure in the CSF5.6 mg*h/L
Primary

Unbound Tazobactam Exposure in the Plasma

Unbound Tazobactam Exposure in the plasma given by the area under the unbound concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC0-inf).

Time frame: Samples collected from 0 to 8 hours post dose at 0, 1, 2,4,6, & 8 h post dose were use estimate area under the curve from time zero to infinity estimated by non-compartmental analysis

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Ceftolozane TazobactamUnbound Tazobactam Exposure in the Plasma52.1 mg*h/L

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026