Glycopeptides in the treatment of staphylococcal infections.
Gram-positive bacteria are rapidly becoming the most important pathogens in nosocomial infections. In recent years, attention and concern have been focused on the gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Enterococcus faecalis. These microorganisms are well equipped to exert their pathogenic effects and to display virulence. Treatment of severe infections caused by gram-positive bacteria remains difficult because of the increase in infections caused by methicillin-resistant staphylococci, and this has renewed interest in the glycopeptide antibiotics, vancomycin and teicoplanin. According to National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Study data, in 1989, 60% of coagulase-negative staphylococci and 22% of Staphylococcus aureus strains showed methicillin resistance. Among other factors, successful antimicrobial therapy depends on rapid and reliable antibiotic delivery to the infection site at a concentration adequate to inhibit the majority of infecting organisms. Glycopeptides may be important in the therapy of catheter-related infections, which are mainly caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus.
Daschner
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FD
Institute for Environmental Medicine and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Freiburg, Germany.
Kropec
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A
D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D003030:Coagulase; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D006020:Glycopeptides; D006801:Humans; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000187:drug effects*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003030:Coagulase; D006020:Glycopeptides