tigecycline + colistin

Tigecycline + colistin is a combination of two antibiotics used primarily for the treatment of severe infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, including carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), *Klebsiella pneumoniae*, *Acinetobacter baumannii*, and certain strains of *Escherichia coli* that are resistant to both drugs individually[1][2]. Tigecycline is a glycylcycline antibiotic that inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit, thereby blocking the entry of amino-acyl tRNA molecules into the A site of the ribosome[8]. Colistin (polymyxin E) is a polymyxin antibiotic that disrupts bacterial cell membranes through interaction with lipopolysaccharides and phospholipids in the outer membrane, leading to increased permeability and cell death[6]. The combination has shown synergistic or additive effects in vitro and in vivo against highly resistant pathogens. Colistin increases outer membrane permeability, facilitating greater intracellular accumulation of tigecycline, which enhances bactericidal activity even against some colistin-resistant strains[1][2]. This regimen is considered when other options are limited due to resistance profiles.

Other names

tigecycline and colistin combinationcolistin-tigecycline combination