Ceftolozane/tazobactam versus colistin in the treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia due to extensively drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa: a comparative cohort study

Background: Resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are common pathogens in the intensive care unit (ICU), limiting available therapeutic options. We aimed to compare ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T) with colistimethate sodium (CMS) in the treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) due to extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Methods A retrospective, observational study was performed at a tertiary care ICU. Clinical and microbiological success rate, 28-day all-cause mortality, and adverse events were compared in patients who received C/T with those treated with systemic CMS. Results A total of 51 patients were included (18 in the C/T and 33 in the CMS group). Clinical success rates in the C/T and CMS groups were 13 (72.2 %) and 10 (30.3 %), respectively. On multivariate regression analysis, treatment with C/T was independently associated with clinical success (odds ratio 4.47, 95% CI = 1.17–17.08). There was no difference in 28-day all-cause mortality (27.8 % and 33.3 % in the C/T and CMS group, p = 0.76). Acute kidney injury was more common in patients who received CMS (48.5 % vs 11.1 %, p = 0.01). Conclusions Ceftolozane/tazobactam proved to be efficient in the treatment of XDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa VAP and showed a better safety profile compared to CMS.