Meropenem/colistin versus meropenem/ampicillin–sulbactam in the treatment of carbapenem-resistant pneumonia

Aim: Efficacy of colistin and ampicillin–sulbactam have not been compared in treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia due to A. baumannii . Efficacy of colistin and ampicillin–sulbactam in combination with meropenem were compared in treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia due to carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii . Method: 47 patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia due to carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii were randomized to receive meropenem/colistin or meropenem/ampicillin–sulbactam for 14 days. Clinical and microbiological responses and 28-day mortality were considered as outcomes. Results: Clinical response (75 vs 69.6%; p = 0.75) and microbial eradication (87.50 vs 91.3%; p = 0.59) were comparable between meropenem/colistin and meropenem/ampicillin–sulbactam groups, respectively. Conclusion: In this study, clinical and microbiological response were comparable between the meropenem/colistin and meropenem/ampicillin–sulbactam groups.