title: Daptomycin - a novel antibiotic against Gram-positive pathogens.
abstract: Daptomycin is a novel member of a new class of antimicrobial agents used in treating resistant Gram-positive infections. These infections are becoming more commonplace and treatment options are limited. At present, daptomycin is approved for use in the US for complicated skin and skin-structure infections that are a common complication of surgery, diabetic foot ulcers, and burns. The most common causative organisms in these types of infections are Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Group C and G streptococci. Traditionally, these infections have been treated with penicillin and cephalosporins, but resistance to these agents is widespread and increasing. Of particular concern is the rapid increase in methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme reported that approximately 30% of S. aureus isolates from skin and skin-structure infections were MRSA. The standard treatment for MRSA infections is vancomycin but resistance to this agent is also developing. There is a continuing need for the development of new antibiotics with Gram-positive activity, to combat multi-drug-resistant Gram-positive infections.
authors.affiliation: University of Rhode Island, Department of Pharmacy Practice, Kingston, RI 02881, USA. KerryTedesco@uri.edu
authors.forename: Kerry L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: LaPlante
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rybak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D017576:Daptomycin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017576:Daptomycin