In Vivo Evolution of GES β-Lactamases Driven by Ceftazidime/Avibactam Treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections.

The mechanisms underlying an in vivo switch in the resistance phenotype of P. aeruginosa after ceftazidime-avibactam treatment was investigated. The initial isolate (a blood culture) was resistant to meropenem but remained susceptible to antipseudomonal cephalosporins and combinations with β-lactamase inhibitors. One week after ceftazidime-avibactam therapy, a subsequent isolate (a rectal swab) recovered from the same patient showed the opposite phenotype. Whole-genome sequence analysis revealed a single SNP difference between both (ST235) isolates, leading to a P162S change in blaGES-5, creating blaGES-15. Thus, blaGES-1, blaGES-5, and blaGES-15 were cloned and expressed in the wild-type strain PAO1. Susceptibility profiles confirmed the P162S substitution reverted the carbapenemase phenotype determined by the G170S change of GES-5 back into the ESBL phenotype of GES-1.