Teicoplanin--domiciliary use in surgical infections.
This is an ongoing study designed to evaluate the role of teicoplanin in the therapy of sternal wound infections following cardiac surgery caused by Gram-positive microorganisms. Intravenous teicoplanin therapy is begun in the hospital, but once the patients return home it is given as a single intramuscular dose of 400 mg/day. Only a limited number of patients have been recruited so far, but in these, the clinical success rate and the bacteriological elimination rate are 85%. Only one patient had to be withdrawn from the study due to intolerable side-effects. These preliminary results suggest that teicoplanin is suitable for the therapy of chest wound infections following cardiac surgery; a major part of the course can be administered at home in a single daily intramuscular injection. This novel therapy regimen is expected to reduce considerably the hospital costs involved in the therapy of sternal wound infections.
Rubinstein
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Infectious Diseases Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-hashomer, Tel Aviv University, School of Medicine, Israel.
D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000601:surgery; D006020:Glycopeptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008480:Mediastinitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017334:Teicoplanin
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006020:Glycopeptides; D017334:Teicoplanin