Clearance of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus Concomitant With Administration of a Microbiota-Based Drug Targeted at Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection Journal Article


Authors: Dubberke, E. R.; Mullane, K. M.; Gerding, D. N.; Lee, C. H.; Louie, T. J.; Guthertz, H.; Jones, C.
Article Title: Clearance of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus Concomitant With Administration of a Microbiota-Based Drug Targeted at Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection
Abstract: Background. Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) is a major healthcare-associated pathogen and a well known complication among transplant and immunocompromised patients. We report on stool VRE clearance in a post hoc analysis of the Phase 2 PUNCH CD study assessing a microbiota-based drug for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Methods. A total of 34 patients enrolled in the PUNCH CD study received 1 or 2 doses of RBX2660 (microbiota suspension). Patients were requested to voluntarily submit stool samples at baseline and at 7, 30, and 60 days and 6 months after the last administration of RBX2660. Stool samples were tested for VRE using bile esculin azide agar with 6 microg/mL vancomycin and Gram staining. Vancomycin resistance was confirmed by Etest. Results. VRE status (at least 1 test result) was available for 30 patients. All stool samples for 19 patients (63.3%, mean age 61.7 years, 68% female) tested VRE negative. Eleven patients (36.7%, mean age 75.5 years, 64% female) were VRE positive at the first test (baseline or 7-day follow-up). Of these patients, 72.7%, n = 8 converted to negative as of the last available follow-up (30 or 60 days or 6 months). Of the other 3: 1 died (follow-up data not available); 1 patient remained positive at all follow-ups; 1 patient retested positive at 6 months with negative tests during the interim. Conclusions. Although based on a small sample size, this secondary analysis demonstrated the possibility of successfully converting a high percentage of VRE-positive patients to negative in a recurrent CDI population with RBX2660.
Journal Title: Open forum infectious diseases
Volume: 3
Issue: 3
ISSN: 2328-8957
Publisher: Unknown  
Journal Place: United States
Date Published: 2016
Start Page: ofw133
Language: ENG
DOI/URL:
Notes: LR: 20161017; JID: 101637045; OTO: NOTNLM; 2016/06/07 [received]; 2016/06/15 [accepted]; epublish