Synergistic combination of polymyxin B and enrofloxacin induced metabolic perturbations in extensive drug-resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract

Polymyxins are used as a last-resort class of antibiotics against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa. As polymyxin monotherapy is associated with potential development of resistance, combination therapy is highly recommended. This study investigated the mechanism underlying the synergistic killing of polymyxin B and enrofloxacin against extensive drug-resistant (XDR) P. aeruginosa. An XDR isolate P. aeruginosa 12196 was treated with clinically relevant concentrations of polymyxin B (2 mg/L) and enrofloxacin (1 mg/L) alone or in combination. Metabolome profiles were investigated from bacterial samples collected at 1-and 4-h posttreatment using liquid chromatography..