Potentiated antibiotic compositions and methods of use for treating bacterial infections and biofilms

Abstract

Compositions of β-lactam antibiotics and branched poly(ethylenimine) (BPEI), and β-lactam antibiotics and potentiating compounds of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-BPEI conjugates, and methods of their use to treat infections and to remove bacterial biofilms from surfaces of devices and wounds. The BPEI and PEG-BPEI conjugates potentiate the activity of the β-lactam antibiotics so the compositions have synergistic effects against various Gram-positive bacteria. For example, the compositions can be used to treat Gram-positive bacteria, such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE), that have developed resistance against most β-lactam antibiotics. The BPEI and PEG-BPEI conjugates result in the resensitization of such resistant bacterial strains to traditional antibiotic therapies such as β-lactam antibiotics.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.