Telavancin versus standard therapy for treatment of complicated skin and soft-tissue infections due to Gram-positive bacteria

Background. Telavancin, a novel lipoglycopeptide, exerts concentration-dependent, rapid bactericidal activity on account of its multiple mechanisms of action. Telavancin is highly active against gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-intermediate, and vancomycin-resistant strains. Methods. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, controlled, phase-2 clinical trial. Patients >= 18 years of age with a diagnosis of complicated skin and soft-tissue infection caused by suspected or confirmed gram-positive organisms were randomized to receive either intravenously administered telavancin once daily or standard therapy ( antistaphylococcal penicillin 4 times daily or vancomycin twice daily). Results. For the study, 167 patients were randomized and received at least 1 dose of study medication. Success rates were similar in all analysis populations at the test-of-cure evaluation. Of patients with S. aureus infection at baseline (n = 102), 80% of the telavancin group were cured and 77% of the standard therapy group were cured. For patients with MRSA infection at baseline (n = 48), cure rates were 82% for the telavancin group and 69% for the standard therapy group. Microbiologic eradication in patients with MRSA infection was 84% for the telavancin group versus 74% for the standard therapy group. MIC90 values were lower for telavancin in all tested strains of S. aureus (<= 0.25 ug/mL) compared with the MIC90 values for vancomycin and oxacillin. Similar proportions of patients discontinued therapy for adverse events in both treatment groups (similar to 5%). Fewer serious adverse events were reported in the telavancin group ( 4 events) than were for the standard therapy group ( 9). Conclusion. Clinical and microbiological results of this study support the further development of telavancin, especially for treatment of infection due to MRSA.