New Inhibitor of Cell Wall Biosynthesis: In Vitro Activity Against Urinary Isolates in Japan and Potentiation with ,8-Lactams

A new phosphonopeptide, alafosfalin, was evaluated for in vitro antibacterial activity and for synergism with /3-lactams, using 475 Japanese clinical isolates from urinary tract infections. Alafosfalin was found to be highly active against Escherichia coli and moderately active against Serratia, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, and Citrobacter, but less active against gram-positive organisms than were (1-lactams such as cephazolin or ampicillin and inactive against indole-positive Proteus, Pseudomonas, and Acinetobacter. Potentiation with the two ,B-lactams (fractional inhibitory concentration _ 0.5) was found in 10 to 40% of susceptible strains in 4:1 and 1:4 combinations, and to a lesser extent in those species or genera that were insensitive to alafosfalin alone. No cross resistance was seen between alafosfalin and the fl-lactams or any other commonly used antibacterial agents tested. Effect on selected ampicillin-resistant strains, differential sensitivity to alafosfalin among resistant strains of various types, and sensitivity of alafosfalin-insensitive E. coli and Klebsiella to other antibiotics are also discussed.