Name: multiplex therapeutic drug monitoring by isotope-dilution hplc-ms/ms of antibiotics in critical illnesses
Uploaded: 2018-08-30T15:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Multiplex Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS of Antibiotics in Critical Illnesses at JoVE.com

The authors thank Dr. Sch&#252;tze for his help with establishing the presented method and Dr. Zoller for the valuable input regarding the proper calibration range. The authors also acknowledge the technical staff of the mass spectrometry facility.

NOTE: It is recommended to work in a fume hood when handling organic solvent, such as methanol. Prepare all buffers and mobile phases in volumetric flasks. If not otherwise specified, the solutions can be stored at room temperature for up to 1 month after preparation.
1. Preparation of the Calibrators and Quality Control Samples
NOTE: A corresponding data analysis sheet for the preparation of stock and spike solutions is given in the Supplemental File...

<ol>
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A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+impact+of+a+multidisciplinary+antimicrobial+stewardship+team+on+the+timeliness+of+antimicrobial+therapy+in+patients+with+positive+blood+cultures:+a+randomized+controlled+trial.">The impact of a multidisciplinary antimicrobial stewardship team on the timeliness of antimicrobial therapy in patients with positive blood cultures: a randomized controlled trial.</a> Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 71 (11), 3276-3283 (2016).</li><li>Baur, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effect+of+antibiotic+stewardship+on+the+incidence+of+infection+and+colonisation+with+antibiotic-resistant+bacteria+and+Clostridium+difficile+infection:+a+systematic+review+and+meta-analysis.">Effect of antibiotic stewardship on the incidence of infection and colonisation with antibiotic-resistant bacteria and Clostridium difficile infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.</a> Lancet Infectious Diseases. 17 (9), 990-1001 (2017).</li><li>Roberts, J. A., Norris, R., Paterson, D. L., Martin, J. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Therapeutic+drug+monitoring+of+antimicrobials.">Therapeutic drug monitoring of antimicrobials.</a> British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 73 (1), 27-36 (2012).</li><li>Paal, M., Zoller, M., Schuster, C., Vogeser, M., Schutze, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Simultaneous+quantification+of+cefepime,+meropenem,+ciprofloxacin,+moxifloxacin,+linezolid+and+piperacillin+in+human+serum+using+an+isotope-dilution+HPLC-MS/MS+method.">Simultaneous quantification of cefepime, meropenem, ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, linezolid and piperacillin in human serum using an isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS method.</a> Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 152, 102-110 (2018).</li><li>Vogeser, M., Seger, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Pitfalls+associated+with+the+use+of+liquid+chromatography-tandem+mass+spectrometry+in+the+clinical+laboratory.">Pitfalls associated with the use of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in the clinical laboratory.</a> Clinical Chemistry. 56 (8), 1234-1244 (2010).</li><li>United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Chapter+&#60;621&#62;.">Chapter &#60;621&#62;.</a> CHROMATOGRAPHY (USP 37-NF 32 S1). , 6376-6385 (2014).</li><li>Wong, G., Sime, F. B., Lipman, J., Roberts, J. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=How+do+we+use+therapeutic+drug+monitoring+to+improve+outcomes+from+severe+infections+in+critically+ill+patients?.">How do we use therapeutic drug monitoring to improve outcomes from severe infections in critically ill patients?.</a> BMC Infectious Diseases. 14, 288 (2014).</li><li>. Cefepime hydrochloride: Highlights of prescribing information Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/Label/2016/050679s040lbl.pdf">https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/Label/2016/050679s040lbl.pdf</a> (2016)</li><li>. Meropenem: Highlights of prescribing information Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/Label/2008/050706s022lbl.pdf">https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/Label/2008/050706s022lbl.pdf</a> (2006)</li><li>. Ciprofloxacin hydrochloride: Highlights of prescribing information Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/Label/2016/019537s086lbl.pdf">https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/Label/2016/019537s086lbl.pdf</a> (2016)</li><li>. Moxifloxacin hydrochloride: Highlights of prescribing information Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/Label/2010/021277s038lbl.pdf">https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/Label/2010/021277s038lbl.pdf</a> (2010)</li><li>. Linezolid: Highlights of prescribing information Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/Label/2012/021130s028lbl.pdf">https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/Label/2012/021130s028lbl.pdf</a> (2011)</li><li>. Piperacillin and Tazobactam: Highlighs of prescribing information Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/Label/2017/050684s88s89s90_050750s37s38s39lbl.pdf">https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/Label/2017/050684s88s89s90_050750s37s38s39lbl.pdf</a> (2017)</li><li>Zander, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effects+of+biobanking+conditions+on+six+antibiotic+substances+in+human+serum+assessed+by+a+novel+evaluation+protocol.">Effects of biobanking conditions on six antibiotic substances in human serum assessed by a novel evaluation protocol.</a> Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory. 54 (2), 265-274 (2016).</li><li>Zander, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Quantification+of+piperacillin,+tazobactam,+cefepime,+meropenem,+ciprofloxacin+and+linezolid+in+serum+using+an+isotope+dilution+UHPLC-MS/MS+method+with+semi-automated+sample+preparation.">Quantification of piperacillin, tazobactam, cefepime, meropenem, ciprofloxacin and linezolid in serum using an isotope dilution UHPLC-MS/MS method with semi-automated sample preparation.</a> Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory. 53 (5), 781-791 (2015).</li></ol>

In this manuscript, we report the protocol for a simple and robust tandem mass spectrometry-based method for the quantification of frequently used antibiotics in ICU19, namely cefepime, meropenem, ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, linezolid, and piperacillin14. A spreadsheet accompanies the manuscript for the preparation of antibiotic stock solutions, calibrators, and quality controls, taking into account the purity of the antibiotics and the molecular weight of their counterion...

Although antibiotics have revolutionized the practice of medicine, severe bacterial infections remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in critical illnesses1. In this regard, the prompt administration of a suitable anti-infective in an adequate dosage is of the uppermost importance for disease control2.
A growing body of evidence demonstrates that the empirical treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics is becoming increasingly problematic with the complexity of patient populations. This is especially true for intensive care units (ICU), where a tremendous inter-individual variability of key pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters is frequently observed3,4. Accordingly, ICU patients are at imminent risk of sub-therapeutic levels with the danger of an insufficient therapeutic success5,6. Then again, patients are unnecessarily exposed to excessively high antibiotic concentrations that may result in serious adverse events with no clinical benefits7. Both the antibiotic misuse and the insufficient dosing have also fueled the dissemination of antibiotic resistance, which is becoming an ever-growing threat to public health8.
To improve the use of antibiotics and to preserve their effectivenessas long as possible, the World Health Organization has launched a global action plan on antimicrobial resistance in 20159. Antibiotic stewardship programs constitute an essential cornerstone of prudent antimicrobial use in national public health strategies10, helping clinicians to improve the quality of patient care11 and, at the same time, significantly reducing the antibiotic resistance12. Antimicrobial dosing in individual patients through the application of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is a key instrument in this context13.
To date, commercially available TDM assays are only available for the glycopeptide antibiotics and aminoglycosides. The quantification of substances from other classes commonly requires an in-house method development or validation that can be cumbersome. We, therefore, present in detail the protocol for a robust mass spectrometry-based assay that can be used for the quantification of the most relevant antibiotics in ICU within their clinical relevant concentration ranges14. The method was recently established in our mass spectrometry facility and has been applied for the routine TDM in ICU since then. The procedure uses a straightforward and simple analytical setting with a uniform sample cleanup, allowing for the rapid implementation of antibiotic TDM in many facilities with mass spectrometry capabilities.
The protocol described here was optimized for the quantification of cefepime, meropenem, ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, linezolid, and piperacillin in human serum, using isotope dilution liquid chromatography (LC) in combination with a tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). For the isotope dilution LC-MS/MS methodology, stable isotope-labeled compounds are added to a sample of interest with a specific matrix (e.g., serum). Isotope-labeled standards can be distinguished from their unlabeled counterpart, namely the analyte of interest, due to different molecular weights of the natural molecule and their fragmentation products, termed a parent-ion-to-daughter-ion transition. As isotope-labeled compounds have an almost identical overall physicochemical behavior compared to their unlabeled counterpart, they are ideal internal standards for the MS/MS, allowing a nearly matrix-independent analyte quantification with a high degree of accuracy15. Nowadays, many stable isotope-labeled internal standards that can be used for small-molecule quantification, including the TDM of antimicrobials, are commercially available.
The chromatographic separation of the antibiotic analytes in the described protocol is performed with an analytical C8 alkyl-chain-length reverse-phase column (100 mm x 2.1 mm, 3 &#181;m particle-size). During the method development, the internal standard normalized matrix factors for all analytes was between 94.6% and 105.4%, with a coefficient of variation of &#8804;8.3%14.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>cefepime hydrochloride</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>1097636</td>
			<td>USP Reference Standard</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>meropenem trihydrate</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>Y0001252</td>
			<td>EP Reference Standard</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ciprofloxacin</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>17850</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>moxifloxacin hydrochloride</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>SML1581</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>linezolid</td>
			<td>Toronto Research Chemicals</td>
			<td>L466500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>piperacillin sodium salt</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>93129</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>cefepime-13C12D3 sulfate</td>
			<td>Alsachim</td>
			<td>C1297</td>
			<td>Isotope labelled internal standard for cefepime</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>meropenem-D6</td>
			<td>Toronto Research Chemicals</td>
			<td>M225617</td>
			<td>Isotope labelled internal standard for meropenem</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ciprofloxacin-D8</td>
			<td>Toronto Research Chemicals</td>
			<td>C482501</td>
			<td>Isotope labelled internal standard for ciprofloxacin</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>moxifloxacin-13C1D3 hydrochloride</td>
			<td>Toronto Research Chemicals</td>
			<td>M745003</td>
			<td>Isotope labelled internal standard for moxifloxacin</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>linezolid-D3</td>
			<td>Toronto Research Chemicals</td>
			<td>L466502</td>
			<td>Isotope labelled internal standard for linezolid</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>piperacillin-D5</td>
			<td>Toronto Research Chemicals</td>
			<td>P479952</td>
			<td>Isotope labelled internal standard for piperacillin</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>methanol</td>
			<td>JT Baker</td>
			<td>8402</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HPLC grade water</td>
			<td>JT Baker</td>
			<td>4218</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>formic acid</td>
			<td>Biosolve</td>
			<td>6914132</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>acetic acid</td>
			<td>Biosolve</td>
			<td>1070501</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ammonium formate</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>70221-25G-F</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>tert-Butyl methyl ether</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>101845</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fortis 3 &#956;m C8 100 * 2.1 mm</td>
			<td>Fortis</td>
			<td>F08-020503</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ti-PEEK-encased Prifilter (2 &#956;m)</td>
			<td>Chromsystems</td>
			<td>15011</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>2795 Alliance HPLC system</td>
			<td>Waters</td>
			<td>176000491</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Quattro micro API Tandem Quadrupole System</td>
			<td>Waters</td>
			<td>720000338</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>QuanLynx 4.1 software</td>
			<td>Waters</td>
			<td>/</td>
			<td>Data evaluation software provided by the mass spectrometer manufacturer</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

multiplex therapeutic drug monitoring by isotope-dilution hplc-ms/ms of antibiotics in critical illnesses

There is an ever-increasing demand for the therapeutic drug monitoring of antibiotics in many clinical facilities, particularly with regard to the implementation of hospital antibiotic stewardship programs.
In the current work, we present a multiplex high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPCL-MS/MS) protocol for the quantification of cefepime, meropenem, ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, linezolid, and piperacillin, commonly used antibiotics in intensive care units. The method was previously comprehensively validated according to the guideline of the European Medicines Agency.
After a rapid sample cleanup, the analytes are separated on a C8 reverse-phase HPLC column within 4 minutes and quantified with the corresponding stable isotope-labeled internal standards in electrospray ionization (ESI+) mass spectrometry in multiple reaction time monitoring (MRM). The presented method uses a simple instrumentation setting with uniform chromatographic conditions, allowing for the daily and robust antibiotic therapeutic drug monitoring in clinical laboratories. The calibration curve spans the pharmacokinetic concentration range, thereby including antibiotic amounts close to the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of susceptible bacteria and peak concentrations (Cmax) that are obtained with bolus administration regimens. Without the necessity of the serum dilution before the sample cleanup, the area under the curve for an administered antibiotic can be obtained through multiple measurements.

Using the described protocol, a typical chromatogram is depicted in Figure 2. According to the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) chromatography guidelines16, the column dead volume in the present system was determined with ~0.22 mL and the extra-column volume (including the injector, tubing, and connectors) with ~0.08 mL, giving a hold-up volume of ~0.30 mL. The calculated retention factors for all analytes were 2.8 (for cefepime) - 4.2...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Multiplex Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS of Antibiotics in Critical Illnesses at JoVE.com

Multiplex Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS of Antibiotics in Critical Illnesses

Here we present a tandem mass spectrometry-based protocol for the quantification of frequently used antibiotics in intensive care units, namely cefepime, meropenem, ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, linezolid, and piperacillin.

There is an ever-increasing demand for the therapeutic drug monitoring of antibiotics in many clinical facilities, particularly with regard to the ...

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