A multicentre, open, clinical trial of a new intravenous formulation of fusidic acid in severe staphylococcal infections.

A new intravenous formulation of fusidic acid, containing sodium fusidate, was used to treat 54 seriously ill patients. Forty-nine patients were infected with fusidic acid sensitive staphylococci. Fusidic acid was given with another antibiotic in 46 cases and alone in three instances. Thirty-three (70.2%) of the 47 cases analysed were cured. Five patients failed to respond and five patients died whilst receiving therapy. Superinfection was recorded in four cases. Adverse events, mainly comprising local intolerance at the infusion site or abnormal liver function tests, were recorded in 22 (40.7%) patients. Therapy was withdrawn because of side effects in only four (7.4%) cases.