A COMPARATIVE-STUDY BETWEEN TEICOPLANIN ALONE AND FLUCLOXACILLIN, PLUS OR MINUS FUSIDIC ACID, IN THE TREATMENT OF SERIOUS INFECTIONS CAUSEDBY METHICILLIN-SUSCEPTIBLE GRAM-POSITIVE BACTERIA

A randomized trial compared teicoplanin alone against flucloxacillin, with or without fusidic acid, in the treatment of serious gram-positiv e infections. The majority of infections involved Staphylococcus aureu s or Staphylococcus epidermidis, methicillin-resistant organisms were excluded. A total of 56 patients were evaluable for efficacy, with no significant differences between treatment groups. Clinical success (cu re + improvement) was achieved in 24/27 patients on teicoplanin (89%), 16 on flucloxacillin (100%) and 8/9 receiving flucloxacillin/fusidic acid (89%). Adverse events occurred in 21% of patients (7 on teicoplan in and 6 receiving flucloxacillin +/- fusidic acid). All such events r esolved spontaneously or following appropriate management. It is concl uded that teicoplanin monotherapy, 400 mg once daily, shows similar ef ficacy and tolerability to multiple daily doses of flucloxacillin, wit h or without fusidic acid, in the treatment of methicillin-susceptible serious gram-positive infection.