Use of daptomycin for treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infections.

Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus are important human pathogens. An increasing proportion of S. aureus are methicillin resistant. For decades, methicillin-resistant S. aureus infections have been treated with vancomycin, but susceptibility is decreasing, and tissue penetration and safety profile (especially nephrotoxicity) is not ideal. Consequently, there is a great need for the development of antibiotics with demonstrated efficacy and safety for infections caused by S. aureus and other Gram-positive pathogens. One such antibiotic is daptomycin, which has a unique mechanism of action and potent, rapid bactericidal activity, without causing cell lysis. Daptomycin has demonstrated significant efficacy in the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections, as well as methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant S. aureus bacteremia, including right-sided endocarditis. Other attributes include an excellent safety profile, low potential for resistance, and once-daily dosing.