title: The safety and efficacy of daptomycin for the treatment of complicated skin and skin-structure infections.
abstract: Daptomycin is the first available agent from a new class of antibiotics, the cyclic lipopeptides, that has activity against a broad range of gram-positive pathogens, including organisms that are resistant to methicillin, vancomycin, and other currently available agents. Daptomycin (4 mg/kg intravenously [iv] every 24 h for 7-14 days) was compared with conventional antibiotics (penicillinase-resistant penicillins [4-12 g iv per day] or vancomycin [1 g iv every 12 h]) in 2 randomized, international trials involving 1092 patients with complicated skin and skin-structure infections. Among 902 clinically evaluable patients, clinical success rates were 83.4% and 84.2% for the daptomycin- and comparator-treated groups, respectively (95% confidence interval, -4.0 to 5.6). Among patients successfully treated with iv daptomycin, 63% required only 4-7 days of therapy, compared with 33% of comparator-treated patients (P<.0001). The frequency and distribution of adverse events were similar among both treatment groups. Overall, the safety and efficacy of daptomycin were comparable with conventional therapy.
authors.affiliation: Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Lexington, Massachusetts 02421, USA.
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Arbeit
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maki
authors.forename: Francis P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Tally
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Campanaro
authors.forename: Barry I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Eisenstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017576:Daptomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D014640:Vancomycin; D017576:Daptomycin