Fig. 2

P. aeruginosa concentrations in tracheal secretions and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids. P. aeruginosa concentrations (log CFU/mL) and MICs are plotted as line graphs with means and standard errors of the mean. A P. aeruginosa concentrations in tracheal secretions differed among the study groups (p < 0.001) and over time (p < 0.001). Statistical significance against the CONTROL group for the MEM and MEM + AMK groups are shown by an asterisk and dagger, respectively. The double dagger shows a significant reduction of P. aeruginosa burden in the MEM + AMK group compared with the MEM group at 48 h (p < 0.001) and 96 h (p = 0.001). B Equally, P. aeruginosa concentrations in BAL fluids varied among treatments (p = 0.012), being significantly decreased in the MEM and MEM + AMK groups compared with the CONTROL group at 96 h. C The MIC of MEM for P. aeruginosa isolates did not change from that for the inoculated strain in the CONTROL and MEM + AMK groups, but increased to 11.5 ± 10.5 mg/L at 72 h and 46.8 ± 11.26 mg/L at 96 h in the MEM group. *p < 0.05 CONTROL versus MEM; ^†p < 0.05 CONTROL versus MEM + AMK; ^‡p < 0.05 MEM versus MEM + AMK. Abbreviations: AMK, inhaled amikacin; BAL, bronchoalveolar lavage; CFU, colony-forming unit; CONTROL, control; MEM, IV meropenem; MIC, minimum inhibitory concentration