Diagnosis and management of skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTI): a literature review a…

[Read more →]

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: a forgotten alternative?

J Chemother. 2009 Apr;21(2):115-26

Authors: Pappas G, Athanasoulia AP, Matthaiou DK, Falagas ME

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a growing infectious concern, mainly in the context of its rapid adaptation to novel antibiotic options for its treatment and the growing morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs associated with its emergence. the authors sought to investigate whether an older antibiotic, such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (SXT), may have a role in treating MRSA-related infections, according to the available literature on the subject. The authors reviewed literature data on: resistance of MRSA to SXT worldwide in recent years, efficacy of SXT for MRSA decolonization or prophylaxis from MRSA infections, and clinical therapeutic efficacy of SXT in treating mild or severe community-acquired or hospital-acquired MRSA infections. Resistance varies worldwide, in general being low in the industrialized world and higher in developing countries. SXT is one of the numerous understudied options for MRSA decolonization and is growingly recognized as potentially effective in preventing MRSA infections in certain settings. Limited data on its therapeutic efficacy are encouraging, at least for mild, community-acquired infections. SXT may represent a cost-effective alternative weapon against MRSA. Its utility against this increasingly threatening pathogen need clarification through further clinical trials.

PMID: 19423463 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Read more →]

Clinical evaluation after a notification policy of linezolid use: a case series of 22 patients.

J Chemother. 2009 Feb;21(1):52-7

Authors: Ito W, Takeda M, Kayaba H, Ueki S, Sato K, Honda K, Kume M, Ishibashi K, Kobayashi N, Kagaya H, Fukui R, Watanabe E, Sakurada N, Tomita N, Chihara J

Linezolid exhibits a broad spectrum of activity against Gram-positive cocci, including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (mRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRe). However, recent studies have already reported the emergence of linezolid-resistant mRSA or VRe. the purpose of this study is to evaluate not only the efficacy of linezolid for the treatment of nosocomial mRSA infections but also the effect of a notification policy of linezolid use. the charts of inpatients who had been treated with linezolid were reviewed for clinical outcome. After introduction of the notification policy of linezolid use, the clinical success rate was 73.3%, and the rate of appropriate linezolid use was 80%, whereas the success rate was 14.2% and the appropriate use rate was 14.3% before the policy. in conclusion, appropriate use controlled by a notification policy of antibiotics use is essential for prevention of the emergence and spread of linezolid-resistant bacteria, and for proper demonstration of its antibacterial ability.

PMID: 19297273 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Read more →]

A review of tigecycline.

J Chemother. 2008 Oct;20 Suppl 1:3-11

Authors: French GL

The first article in this supplement is an overall review of the first glycylcycline, tigecycline, which includes a brief overview of the problem of tetracycline resistance as well as tigecycline’s mode of action, antibacterial activity, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability. The remaining articles in the supplement report the European clinical experience from the pivotal clinical trials in complicated intra-abdominal infections, complicated skin and skin structure infections and community acquired pneumonia.

PMID: 19036669 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Read more →]