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Effect of colistin combined with sulbactam: 9 g versus 12 g per day on mortality in the treatment of carbapenems resistant Acinetobacter baumannii pneumonia: a randomized controlled trial

Chutchawan Ungthammakhun, Vasin Vasikasin, Waristha Simsiriporn, Piraporn Juntanawiwat, Dhitiwat Changpradub

International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2024

138 participants · 10 citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND

The current treatment recommendation involves administering a high dose of sulbactam alongside at least one additional agent. However, there remains a lack of data regarding the optimal dosage of sulbactam. We investigated whether administering sulbactam at a dosage of 12 g/day decreases the mortality rate among patients with CRAB pneumonia compared to 9 g/day.

METHODS

The study was an open-label, superiority, randomized controlled trial conducted at Phramongkutklao Hospital between September 2019 and September 2023 in patients diagnosed with CRAB. Participants were randomly assigned to receive a combination of colistin with either 9 or 12 g/day of sulbactam. The primary endpoint was the all-cause mortality rate at 28 days post-randomization.

RESULTS

Among the 138 participants, there was a trend toward a lower mortality rate in the 12 g/day group (59.4% vs. 47.8%; p = 0.158). After adjusting for factors associated with mortality, a lower mortality was observed in the 12 g/day group (adjusted HR 0.54 [95% CI 0.33-0.87]; p = 0.0110). The microbiological cure rate at day 7 was higher in the 12 g/day group (73.2% vs. 89.4%; p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Colistin in combination with sulbactam at a dosage of 12 g/day may improve mortality compared to 9 g/day.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 138 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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