Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Bloodstream infections (BSI) caused by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) are associated with high mortality with limited treatment. The aim of this study is to compare effectiveness and safety of colistin-based versus cefiderocol-based therapies for CRAB-BSI. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study enrolling patients with monomicrobial CRAB-BSIs treated with colistin or cefiderocol from 1 January 2020, to 31 December 2022. The 30-day all-cause mortality rate was the primary outcome. A Cox regression analysis was performed to identify factors independently associated with mortality. A propensity score analysis using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was also performed. RESULTS: Overall 118 patients were enrolled, 75 (63%) and 43 (37%) treated with colistin- and cefiderocol-based regimens. The median (q1-q3) age was 70 (62-79) years; 70 (59%) patients were men. The 30-day all-cause mortality was 52%, significantly lower in the cefiderocol group (40% vs 59%, p = 0.045). By performing a Cox regression model, age (aHR = 1.03, 95% CI 1.00-1.05), septic shock (aHR = 1.93, 95% CI 1.05-3.53), and delayed targeted therapy (aHR = 2.42, 95% CI 1.11-5.25) were independent predictors of mortality, while cefiderocol-based therapy was protective (aHR = 0.49, 95% CI 0.25-0.93). The IPTW-adjusted Cox analysis confirmed the protective effect of cefiderocol (aHR = 0.53, 95% CI 0.27-0.98). CONCLUSIONS: Cefiderocol may be a valuable treatment option for CRAB-BSI, especially in the current context of limited treatment options.