Daptomycin resistance a concern

Link: Daptomycin for endocarditis and/or bacteraemia: a systematic review of the experimental and clinical evidence — Falagas et al., 10.1093/jac/dkm137 — Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

Results: The most reliable information comes from the single multicentre randomized controlled trial conducted on this issue, which showed that daptomycin is a promising antibiotic for the treatment of patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia and endocarditis. The experimental models indicate that the combination of daptomycin with rifampicin or gentamicin can improve outcomes further. Finally, in several of the published relevant case reports daptomycin was administered in patients with haematological malignancies.

Conclusions: Daptomycin is a promising antibiotic that has been already approved for the treatment of patients with right-sided endocarditis and bacteraemia. However, the available clinical evidence is limited and further evaluation of the antibiotic is warranted. The commonly reported de novo development of resistance is a major concern that may limit its use. More controlled trials are needed, especially for patients infected with multidrug-resistant Gram-positive cocci, comparing daptomycin with other available treatment options, including glycopeptides and oxazolidinones.