Pharmacologic and bacteriologic properties of SCH-27899 (Ziracin), an investigational antibiotic from the everninomicin family

SCH-27899 is an investigational antibiotic from the everninomicin family, a group of oligosaccharide antibiotics produced by Micromonospora carbonacea . Information regarding the pharmacology, pharmaco dynamics, pharmacokineti cs, efficacy, and toxicity of this agent was obtained from a MEDLINE search and a review of abstracts presented at recent scientific meetings. SCH-278 99 has in vitro bacteriostatic activity against a wide variety of gram-posi tive organisms, including highly resistant organisms such as methicillin-re sistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-intermediate-sensitivity S. aureu s, Streptococcus pneumoniae (both penicillin-susceptible and -nonsusceptibl e), and vancomycin-resistant enterococci. In vitro data, animal studies, an d preliminary human studies indicate that it is effective and fairly well t olerated. Its place in therapy remains to be determined, and clinical trial s continue.