Successful treatment of skin and soft tissue infection due to carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii by ampicillin–sulbactam and meropenem combination therapy

In recent years, carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections have been responsible for outbreaks in medical facilities. A 35-year-old Japanese woman developed a skin and soft tissue infection due to carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii. The isolate was resistant to antibiotics other than ampicillin–sulbactam and colistin, suggesting drug resistance due to carbapenemase production by OXA-23. We selected a combination therapy consisting of intravenous ampicillin–sulbactam and meropenem. No changes were observed in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, or serum creatinine during therapy, and carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii was not detected in wound exudates 3 days after therapy initiation. In our patient's case, combination therapy with ampicillin–sulbactam and meropenem was successful. Thus, combination therapy with ampicillin–sulbactam and meropenem is effective against skin and soft tissue infection due to carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii. Combination therapy with intravenous ampicillin–sulbactam and meropenem may be an option for skin and soft tissue infections due to carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii.