# 569. Identification of Ampicillin and Vancomycin In Vitro Susceptibility Test Interpretive Criteria for Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium

**Authors:** Sujata M Bhavnani, Jeffrey P Hammel, Christopher M Rubino, Brian D VanScoy, M Courtney Safir, Jennifer K Torgersen, Rodrigo E Mendes, Helio Sader, Paul G Ambrose

PMC · DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaf695.178 · Open Forum Infectious Diseases · 2026-01-11

## TL;DR

This paper identifies susceptibility test criteria for ampicillin and vancomycin against two types of enterococci using pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic models.

## Contribution

New susceptibility breakpoints for ampicillin and vancomycin against E. faecalis and E. faecium are proposed using PK-PD modeling.

## Key findings

- Susceptible breakpoints of ≤8 mg/L for ampicillin and ≤4 mg/L for vancomycin are recommended for both E. faecalis and E. faecium.
- PK-PD target attainment probabilities were assessed using simulated patient data and in vitro surveillance data.
- Literature searches did not provide meaningful clinical data to support alternative breakpoints.

## Abstract

Ampicillin and vancomycin are used for the treatment of patients with enterococcal infections. In vitro STIC for these agents against Enterococcus species were established decades ago based on limited clinical and pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) data. Using non-clinical PK-PD targets for efficacy, population PK models, simulation, and in vitro surveillance data, PK-PD target attainment analyses were performed to identify STIC for these agents against E. faecalis and E. faecium.

Population PK models for each agent were identified from the literature. PK-PD targets for efficacy were based on data from a neutropenic murine invasive enterococcal infection model. Using replication, simulated patients with demographic variables resembling a clinical trial population were generated. These variables with population PK models were used to generate ampicillin and vancomycin exposures after administration of ampicillin 2 g IV q4h adjusted for creatinine clearance (CLcr) and vancomycin weight-based loading doses followed by dosing regimens based on weight and CLcr. On Days 5 to 6, vancomycin AUC values were assigned from distributions assuming administration of dosing regimens adjusted using therapeutic drug monitoring. Percent probabilities of PK-PD target attainment by MIC based on median and randomly assigned ampicillin and vancomycin PK-PD targets associated with a 1-log10 CFU reduction from baseline for each pathogen were assessed in the context of in vitro surveillance data and any available clinical PK-PD and outcome by MIC data from the literature.

Percent probabilities of PK-PD target attainment by MIC on Days 1 to 2 and 5 to 6 for ampicillin and vancomycin are shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, respectively. Table 1 shows candidate susceptible breakpoints for E. faecalis and E. faecium based on these data, with recommended and existing STIC shown in Table 2. These data suggest ampicillin and vancomycin susceptible breakpoints of ≤ 8 and ≤ 4 mg/L for both species, respectively, consistent with CLSI STIC. In totality, the results from the literature search for clinical data did not provide meaningful information.

The results of these analyses provide support for recommendations for ampicillin and vancomycin STIC for E. faecalis and E. faecalis.

All Authors: No reported disclosures

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** ampicillin (PubChem CID 6249), vancomycin (PubChem CID 14969)
- **Species:** Enterococcus faecalis (taxon 1351), Enterococcus faecium (taxon 1352)

## Figures

4 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12791325/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12791325