Experience with Teicoplanin in the Treatment of Neonatal Staphylococcal Sepsis

Abstract

We aimed to evaluate retrospectively the clinical and bacteriological efficacy and potential side-effects of teicoplanin treatment in neonates with proven staphylococcal infection. There were 37 episodes of staphylococcal septicaemia in neonates with a mean gestational age of 34.2 ± 2.3 weeks; 26 were caused by coagulasenegative staphylococcal (CoNS) sepsis and 11 by Staphylococcus aureus sepsis. All episodes were treated with teicoplanin (intravenous loading dose 16 mg/kg followed by a maintenance dose of 8 mg/kg daily). The methicillin resistance and antibiotic susceptibilities of both micro-organisms were evaluated. Bacterial eradication was achieved in 89.1% of cases and mortality was 16.2%. The mean duration of treatment of the survivors was 11.6 ± 2.3 days. There were no drug-related adverse events and the biochemical and haematological tests showed no clinically significant changes in relation to teicoplanin therapy. Our results suggest that teicoplanin is highly effective in neonatal staphylococcal sepsis.

Future Challenges And Treatment Of Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteremia With Emphasis On MRSA

“…Several studies have shown that teicoplanin is as effective as vancomycin in the treatment of bacteremia, bone and joint infections and is generally better tolerated with fewer adverse events [109–111]. Teicoplanin is available for intravenous or intramuscular administration and has an advantage in terms of its single daily dosing.…”

Clinical pharmacology of teicoplanin in infants and children

“…In children, the oral dose is 100 to 200 mg twice-daily and the intravenous dosage consists in a loading dose of 12 mg/kg twice-daily followed by a maintenance dose of 12 mg/kg once-daily [3]. Teicoplanin has been found efficacy and safety in infants and children [4][5][6][7][8]. Teicoplanin has been found efficacy in infants with staphylococcal sepsis [4].…”

“…Teicoplanin has been found efficacy and safety in infants and children [4][5][6][7][8]. Teicoplanin has been found efficacy in infants with staphylococcal sepsis [4]. Teicoplanin and vancomycin are equally effective in treating children with bacterial infections but the incidence of toxicity and other adverse-effects are lower with teicoplanin [5,6].…”