In vitro activity of new combinations of β-lactam and β-lactamase inhibitors against the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex.

Repurposing of already approved antibiotics, such as β-lactams in combination with β-lactamase inhibitors, may provide new treatment alternatives for drug-resistant tuberculosis. Meropenem-clavulanic acid was more active in vitro compared to meropenem-vaborbactam. Notably, tebipenem-clavulanic acid showed even better activity, raising the potential of an all-oral treatment option. Clinical data are needed to investigate whether the better in vitro activity of tebipenem-clavulanic acid correlates with greater clinical efficacy compared with the currently WHO-endorsed meropenem-clavulanic acid.