title: Retrospective analysis of tigecycline shows that it may be an option for children with severe infections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed the efficacy and safety of tigecycline in children with life-threatening infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of patients treated with tigecycline from June 2012 to May 2014 in a Chinese tertiary centre.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study comprised 24 patients (14 male) with a median age of four years (range, 50 days-12 years). The most frequently isolated microorganism, most common isolation site and type of infection were Acinetobacter baumannii, tracheal aspirate fluid and ventilator-associated pneumonia, respectively. Tigecycline was administered at a loading dose of 1.5 or 2.0 mg/kg and 1.0 mg/kg every 12 hours after that. The average duration of treatment was 11.6 ± 5.8 days. The clinical response and microbiological eradication rate were 37.5% and 29.2%, respectively. Six of the patients we studied (25.0%) died, and three of these deaths were considered to be infection related. Adverse drug reactions were identified in four patients (16.7%) during the treatment, including abnormal liver function, prolonged prothrombin time and diarrhoea.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that tigecycline may be an option for children with severe infections. However, more prospective, controlled trials are required to objectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of tigecycline in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zheng-Yi
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Ju-Fei
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Ying-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Feng
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jue
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China. chawml@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Miao-Lian
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000151:Acinetobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D040981:Acinetobacter baumannii / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008911:Minocycline / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000078304:Tigecycline
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000078304:Tigecycline; D008911:Minocycline
keywords: Children; Multidrug-resistant bacteria; Severe infection; Tigecycline