In vitro collateral sensitivity: a potential approach against multiple antibiotic resistant bacteria

Abstract

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) has long been recognized as a major issue. With the emergence and rapid spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the world's stock of viable antibiotics is rapidly depleting. In this regard, Collateral Sensitivity (CS) is a promising and alternative approach with the potential to treat bacterial infections. The project aimed to study the collateral sensitivity of gram-negative resistant bacteria by exposing clinical isolates to antibiotics in individual and combination antibiotic trials. The results were promising for both Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The efficiency of Linezolid against gram-negative bacteria was one of novel findings of this study. Exposure to Linezolid in combination with other antibiotics produced encouraging results. 50% of the P. aureginosa strains showed susceptibility to Ceftriaxone, Levofloxacin, Tetracycline, Amikacin and Meropenem when exposed to Linezolid itself whereas 75% of the K. pneumoniae strains showed susceptibility to Tetracycline. Although the clinical implementation is still under study, the collateral sensitivity treatment could prove be an adequate addition to the current treatment to lower the antibiotic resistance ratio. Further research at the molecular level is suggested to better understand the effect of collateral sensitivity.