Clinical experience with quinupristin-dalfopristin as rescue treatment of critically ill patients infected with methicillin-resistant staphylococci.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the efficacy and safety of quinupristin-dalfopristin (Q-D) as rescue therapy in critically ill patients with severe infections caused by methicillin-resistant staphylococci unresponsive to vancomycin treatment.


METHODS
Observational study in the context of the compassionate use programme for Q-D.


METHODS
Twelve mechanically ventilated patients suffering from severe staphylococcal infections, pretreated unsuccessfully with vancomycin despite in vitro sensitivity, were included. Patients received, intravenously, Q-D 7.5 mg/kg body weight 3 times daily. The duration of Q-D therapy averaged 11.8 days (range: 1-26 days). The outcome variables were clinical efficacy and bacteriological eradication.


RESULTS
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) were isolated in three patients each, and both bacteria were isolated from six patients. Eradication of pathogen(s) was achieved in 7 of 12 patients (66%). Five patients (42%) died due to severe co-morbidity. Adverse events related to Q-D were not observed and neither renal nor liver function was adversely affected.


CONCLUSIONS
Quinupristin-dalfopristin appears to be an efficient and safe antimicrobial drug for the rescue treatment of staphylococcal infections in critically ill patients. It may be considered as a treatment option in cases of vancomycin treatment failure.
Sander
A
A
Abteilung für Anästhesiologie und Intensivmedizin, Evangelisches und Johanniter Klinikum, Fahrner Strasse 133-135, 47169 Duisburg, Germany. andreas.sander@ejk.de
Beiderlinden
M
M
Schmid
E N
EN
Peters
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003422:Critical Care; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008875:Middle Aged; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014769:Virginiamycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014769:Virginiamycin; C113825:quinupristin; C113826:dalfopristin