Daptomycin may be an Alternative to Standard Therapy for Bacteremia and Endocarditis Caused by Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus Aureus is a leading cause of bacteremia and endocarditis. Gentamicin plus penicillin or vancomycin is standard therapy for S. Aureus bacteremia. Vancomycin is the standard therapy for blood-stream infections attributable to methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The standard therapy has been associated with suboptimal outcomes. Vance G. Fowler, Jr., MD, MHS, et al from Duke University Medical Center set out to establish whether daptomycin is an effective and safe treatment for S. aureus bacteremia and endocarditis. The study, published in the August 17, 2006 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine found that Daptomycin (6 mg per kilogram daily) is not inferior to standard therapy for S. aureus bacteremia and right-sided endocarditis. MORE»