Infections due to carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (CREC) are problematic due to limitation in treatment options. Combination therapies of existing antimicrobial agents have become a reliable strategy to control these infections. In this study, the synergistic effects of meropenem in combination with aminoglycosides were assessed by checkerboard and time-kill assays. Of the 35 isolates, 19 isolates (54.3%) were resistant to carbapenems (imipenem and meropenem) with the MIC ranges from 16 to 128 µg/mL. These isolates were resistant to almost all antibiotic classes. Molecular characteristics revealed co-harboring of carbapenemase (blaNDM-1, blaNDM-5 and blaOXA-48) and extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) genes (blaCTX-M, blaSHV and blaTEM). The checkerboard assay displayed synergistic effects of meropenem and several aminoglycosides against most CREC isolates. Time-kill assays further demonstrated strong synergistic effects of meropenem in combination with either amikacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, streptomycin, and tobramycin. The results suggested that meropenem in combination with aminoglycoside therapy might be an efficient optional treatment for infections cause by CREC.
Keywords: ESBL genes; aminoglycosides; antibiotic synergism; carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli; combination therapy.