Activity of oritavancin and comparators in vitro against standard and high inocula of Staphylococcus aureus

In this study, the impact of inoculum density on the growth inhibitory and killing activities of oritavancin and comparators (vancomycin, daptomycin and linezolid) in vitro against four Staphylococcus aureus strains at clinically relevant drug concentrations was studied. Broth microdilution and time-kill assays were performed using a standard inoculum [ca. 105 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL as per Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines] and a high inoculum (ca. 107 CFU/mL). Whereas minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of comparators were 2-8-fold higher when tested at high inoculum, oritavancin MICs were 16-fold higher for all strains at the high inoculum relative to the standard inoculum. However, in time-kill assays, when tested at its fCmin [trough concentration of free (non-protein-bound) drug] and fCmax (peak concentration of non-protein-bound drug), oritavancin retained its bactericidal activity against a vancomycin-susceptible, meticillin-susceptible S. aureus (VS-MSSA) strain and a vancomycin-susceptible, meticillin-resistant S. aureus (VS-MRSA) strain both at standard and high inocula. At its fCmax, oritavancin was bactericidal at standard inoculum but not at high inoculum against two vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA) strains. Against both VISA strains at standard inoculum, oritavancin at its fCmin reduced cell density by between 2 and 3 log (bacteriostatic), predicting that it will retain activity against certain VISA infections. However, oritavancin had no substantial growth inhibitory effect against either VISA strain at high inoculum, suggesting that in rare VISA infections with an anticipated high bacterial burden such as endocarditis, alternative oritavancin dosing strategies, including combinations with other agents, may be explored.