Evaluation of Daptomycin Exposure and Efficacy and Safety Endpoints To Support Risk-versus-Benefit Considerations

The choice of an antimicrobial agent must balance optimization of efficacy endpoints with the minimization of safety events. The risk versus benefit of daptomycin for patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia with or without infective endocarditis receiving daptomycin at 6, 8, and 10 mg/kg of body weight/day was assessed. The relationships between the area under the concentration-time curve over 24 h (AUC)/MIC ratio and both clinical response and time to decreased susceptibility were evaluated using data from patients with such infections who received daptomycin at 6 mg/kg/day. Using these relationships, plus the previously identified relationship between the minimum concentration and an elevation in the creatine phosphokinase (CPK) concentration (CPK elevation) (S. M. Bhavnani, C. M. Rubino, P. G. Ambrose, and G. L. Drusano, Clin Infect Dis 50:1568–1574, 2010) and Monte Carlo simulation, the probability of each outcome by MIC for daptomycin at 6, 8, and 10 mg/kg/day was calculated. The function for exposure-response relationships for clinical response (P = 0.06) and time to decreased susceptibility (P = 0.01) resembled U and inverted U shapes, respectively. Multivariable analyses demonstrated AUC/MIC ratio, creatinine clearance, albumin concentration, and disease category to be predictors of clinical response. The results of simulations failed to demonstrate large improvements in the probabilities of clinical success among cohorts of simulated patients defined by the above-described predictive factors or the probability of decreased susceptibility at 30 days when the daptomycin dose was increased from 6 to 10 mg/kg/day. The probability of CPK elevation increased from 0.073 to 0.156 over this dose range. These data can be used to inform risk-versus-benefit decisions for daptomycin dose selection in patients with S. aureus bacteremia with or without infective endocarditis. The risk of CPK elevation, which is reversible, should be weighed in the context of the mortality and severe morbidity associated with these types of serious staphylococcal infections.     

Daptomycin for treating infected diabetic foot ulcers: evidence from a randomized, controlled trial comparing daptomycin with vancomycin or semi-synthetic penicillins for complicated skin and skin-structure infections

OBJECTIVES: The predominant pathogens causing diabetic foot infections are Gram-positive cocci, many of which are now resistant to commonly prescribed antibiotics. Daptomycin is a new agent that is active against most Gram-positive pathogens. To compare the effectiveness of daptomycin against semi-synthetic penicillins or vancomycin, we analysed the subset of diabetic patients with an infected ulcer enrolled in two randomized, controlled investigator-blind trials of patients with complicated skin and soft-tissue infections presumptively caused by Gram-positive organisms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with a diabetic ulcer infection were prospectively stratified to ensure they were equally represented in the treatment groups, then randomized to either daptomycin [4 mg/kg every 24 h intravenously (iv)] or a pre-selected comparator (vancomycin or a semi-synthetic penicillin) for 7-14 days. RESULTS: Among 133 patients with a diabetic ulcer infection, 103 were clinically evaluable; 47 received daptomycin and 56 received a comparator. Most infections were monomicrobial, and Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant pathogen. Success rates for patients treated with daptomycin or the comparators were not statistically different for clinical (66% versus 70%, respectively; 95% CI, -14.4, 21.8) or microbiological (overall or by pathogen) outcomes. Both treatments were generally well tolerated, with most adverse events of mild to moderate severity. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical and microbiological efficacy and safety of daptomycin were similar to those of commonly used comparator antibiotics for treating infected diabetic foot ulcers caused by Gram-positive pathogens. Daptomycin should be considered for treating these infections, especially those caused by resistant Gram-positive pathogens.     

Multicenter Study of High-Dose Daptomycin for Treatment of Enterococcal Infections

Enterococci are among the leading pathogens isolated in hospital-acquired infections. Current antimicrobial options for vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are limited. Prior data suggest that daptomycin at >6 mg/kg of body weight/day may be used to treat enterococcal infections. We retrospectively evaluated the effectiveness and safety of high-dose daptomycin (HD-daptomycin) therapy (>6 mg/kg) in a multicenter cohort of adult patients with enterococcal infections to describe the characteristics and outcomes. Two hundred forty-five patients were evaluated. Enterococcus faecium was identified in 175 (71%), followed by Enterococcus faecalis in 49 (20%) and Enterococcus spp. in 21 (9%); overall, 204 (83%) isolates were VRE. Enterococcal infections included bacteremia (173, 71%) and intra-abdominal (35, 14%) and bone and joint (25, 10%) infections. The median dosage and duration of HD-daptomycin were 8.2 mg/kg/day (interquartile range [IQR], 7.7 to 9.7) and 10 days (IQR, 6 to 15), respectively. The overall clinical success rate was 89% (193/218), and microbiological eradication was observed in 93% (177/191) of patients. The median time to clearance of blood cultures on HD-daptomycin was 3 days (IQR, 2 to 5). The 30-day all-cause mortality rate was 27%, and 5 (2%) patients developed daptomycin-nonsusceptible enterococcal strains while on HD-daptomycin. Seven patients (3%) had creatine phosphokinase (CPK) elevation, yet no HD-daptomycin regimen was discontinued due to an elevated CPK and all patients were asymptomatic. Overall, there was a high frequency of clinical success and microbiological eradication in patients treated with HD-daptomycin for enterococcal infections, even in patients with complicated and difficult-to-treat infections. No adverse event-related discontinuation of HD-daptomycin was noted. HD-daptomycin may be an option for the treatment of enterococcal infections.     

High doses of daptomycin (10 mg/kg/d) plus rifampin for the treatment of staphylococcal prosthetic joint infection managed with implant retention: a comparative study

We aimed to analyze the efficacy and safety of high doses of daptomycin (10 mg/kg/d) plus rifampin (D10 + R) for prosthetic joint infection (PJI). This was an observational retrospective multicenter study (2010–2012) including all patients with acute PJI by fluoroquinolone-resistant staphylococci managed with implant retention and D10 + R. Twenty cases were included: 2 (10%) were withdrawn due to toxicity, leaving 18 cases for efficacy evaluation: 13 (72%) women, age 79 years (range 58–90). Clinical failure was observed in 9 (50%) patients: in 5 cases, staphylococci were recovered (28% of microbiological failures); no modification of daptomycin-MIC was observed. These 18 cases were compared with 44 matched historical cases: failure rate was similar, but whereas in the historical series, failure occurred fundamentally during therapy, in the present series, it was recorded after discontinuation of antibiotics. In summary, D10 + R may be the initial treatment of choice for PJI by fluoroquinolone-resistant staphylococci managed with implant retention.     

A pilot study of high-dose short duration daptomycin for the treatment of patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections caused by gram-positive bacteria

Background: Methicillin‐susceptible and ‐resistant (MRSA) Staphylococcus aureus are significant causes of complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI). The bactericidal antibiotic daptomycin is approved for gram‐positive cSSSI at 4 mg/kg/day for 7–14 days, but the optimal dose level and duration of therapy have not been firmly established. This pilot study evaluated the efficacy and safety of daptomycin at 10 mg/kg every 24 h for 4 days [high‐dose short duration (HDSD) regimen] vs. standard of care therapy with vancomycin or semi‐synthetic penicillin for the treatment of cSSSI. Methods: This was a semi‐single blind, randomised, multicentre, comparative trial. The primary efficacy end‐point was the clinical response 7–14 days posttherapy. Results: One hundred patients were randomised; 48 in each arm were treated. The treatment groups were well balanced with respect to demographics, comorbidities and the type of infection (75% because of MRSA). Overall, clinical success rates were 75.0% (36/48) for daptomycin and 87.5% (42/48) for comparator (95% confidence interval for the difference: ?27.9, 2.9). The median duration of comparator therapy was 8 days. Two comparator patients and no daptomycin patients experienced treatment‐related serious adverse events requiring hospitalisation. Conclusion: We found that the HDSD regimen had a safety profile similar to that seen in previous studies. Although the differences were not statistically significant, clinical success rates for comparator were higher than for daptomycin. In post hoc analyses HDSD daptomycin performed better in some subgroups (e.g. outpatients) than in others (e.g. certain MRSA infections). These observations require confirmation in larger trials.     

Efficacy and safety of intravenous daptomycin in Japanese patients with skin and soft tissue infections

Daptomycin is a lipopeptide antibiotic active against gram-positive organisms and recently approved for marketing in Japan. This study investigates the efficacy and safety of daptomycin in Japanese patients with skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) for regulatory filing in Japan. Overall, 111 Japanese patients with SSTI were randomized in this open-label, randomized, active-comparator controlled, parallel-group, multicenter, phase III study. Patients received intravenous daptomycin 4 mg/kg once daily or vancomycin 1 g twice daily for 7–14 days. Efficacy was determined by a blinded Efficacy Adjudication Committee. Among patients with SSTIs caused by MRSA, 81.8 % (95 % CI, 69.1–90.9) of daptomycin recipients and 84.2 % (95 % CI, 60.4–96.6) of vancomycin recipients achieved a successful clinical response at the test-of-cure (TOC) visit. The microbiological success rate against MRSA at the TOC visit was 56.4 % (95 % CI, 42.3–69.7) with daptomycin and 47.4 % (95 % CI, 24.4–71.1) with vancomycin. Daptomycin was generally well tolerated; most adverse events were of mild to moderate severity. The measurement of daptomycin concentration in plasma revealed that patients with mild or moderate impaired renal function showed similar pharmacokinetics profiles to patients with normal renal function. Clinical and microbiological responses, stratified by baseline MRSA susceptibility, suggested that patients infected with MRSA of higher daptomycin MIC showed a trend of lower clinical success with a P value of 0.052 by Cochran–Armitage test. Daptomycin was clinically and microbiologically effective for the treatment of MRSA-associated SSTIs in Japanese patients.     

Musculoskeletal Safety Outcomes of Patients Receiving Daptomycin with HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors

Daptomycin, a cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic, and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl–coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) are commonly administered in the inpatient setting and are associated with creatine phosphokinase (CPK) elevations, myalgias, and muscle weakness. Safety data for coadministration of daptomycin with statins are limited. To determine the safety of coadministration of daptomycin with statin therapy, a multicenter, retrospective, observational study was performed at 13 institutions in the Southeastern United States. Forty-nine adult patients receiving statins concurrently with daptomycin were compared with 171 patients receiving daptomycin without statin therapy. Detailed information, including treatment indication and duration, infecting pathogen, baseline and subsequent CPK levels, and presence of myalgias or muscle complaints, was collected. Myalgias were noted in 3/49 (6.1%) patients receiving combination therapy compared with 5/171 (2.9%) of patients receiving daptomycin alone (P = 0.38). CPK elevations of >1,000 U/liter occurred in 5/49 (10.2%) patients receiving combination therapy compared to 9/171 (5.3%) patients receiving daptomycin alone (P = 0.32). Two of five patients experiencing CPK elevations of >1,000 U/liter in the combination group had symptoms of myopathy. Three patients (6.1%) discontinued therapy due to CPK elevations with concurrent myalgias in the combination group versus 6 patients (3.5%) in the daptomycin-alone group (P = 0.42). CPK levels and myalgias reversed upon discontinuation of daptomycin therapy. Overall musculoskeletal toxicity was numerically higher in the combination group but this result was not statistically significant. Further prospective study is warranted in a larger population.     

Daptomycin is more efficacious than vancomycin against a methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus in experimental meningitis

OBJECTIVES: To test the efficacy of daptomycin, a cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic, against a methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus strain in experimental rabbit meningitis and to determine its penetration into non-inflamed and inflamed meninges RESULTS: Over a treatment period of 8 h, daptomycin (15 mg/kg) was significantly superior to the comparator regimen vancomycin (-4.54 +/- 1.12 log(10)/mL for daptomycin versus -3.43 +/- 1.17 log(10)/mL for vancomycin). Daptomycin managed to sterilize 6 out of 10 CSFs compared with 4 out of 10 for vancomycin. The penetration of daptomycin into inflamed meninges was approximately 5% and approximately 2% into non-inflamed meninges. CONCLUSIONS: The superior bactericidal activity of daptomycin was confirmed in vivo and in time-killing assays in vitro.     

Pharmacokinetics and tolerability of daptomycin at doses up to 12 milligrams per kilogram of body weight once daily in healthy volunteers

Daptomycin, a novel lipopeptide, is bactericidal against a broad range of gram-positive strains, including methicillin- (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Daptomycin is approved at 4 mg/kg of body weight given intravenously once daily for the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections and at 6 mg/kg for the treatment of S. aureus bloodstream infections (bacteremia), including right-sided endocarditis caused by methicillin-susceptible S. aureus and MRSA. The present study was designed to evaluate the multiple-dose pharmacokinetics and safety of daptomycin at doses of 6 to 12 mg/kg in healthy volunteers. Three cohorts of 12 subjects each were given daptomycin (10 mg/kg) or placebo once daily for 14 days, daptomycin (12 mg/kg) or placebo once daily for 14 days, or daptomycin (6 or 8 mg/kg) once daily for 4 days. Daptomycin produced dose-proportional increases in the area under the plasma concentration-time curve and in trough daptomycin levels and nearly dose-proportional increases in peak daptomycin concentrations. Other pharmacokinetic parameters measured on day 1 and at steady state were independent of the dose, including the half-life (approximately 8 h), weight-normalized plasma clearance (9 to 10 ml/h/kg), and volume of distribution (approximately 100 ml/kg). Plasma protein binding was 90% to 93% and was independent of the daptomycin concentration. Daptomycin did not produce electrocardiographic abnormalities or electrophysiological evidence of muscle or nerve toxicity. Daptomycin was well tolerated in subjects dosed with up to 12 mg/kg intravenously for 14 days. Doses of daptomycin higher than 6 mg/kg once daily may be considered in further studies to evaluate the safety and efficacy of daptomycin in difficult-to-treat infections.     

daptomycin activity against Staphylococcus aureus following vancomycin exposure in an in vitro pharmacodynamic model with simulated endocardial vegetations

Recently, the emergence of reduced susceptibility to daptomycin has been linked to the reduced vancomycin susceptibility that occurs after vancomycin exposure in Staphylococcus aureus in vivo and in vitro. This study evaluated this propensity in clinical isolates of S. aureus using an in vitro pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model with simulated endocardial vegetations over 8 days. Five clinical isolates (four methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates and one methicillin-susceptible S. aureus [MSSA] isolate), all of which were reported to have become nonsusceptible to daptomycin, were evaluated. The following regimens were evaluated: vancomycin 1 g every 12 h for 4 days followed by daptomycin 6 mg/kg of body weight daily for 4 days and daptomycin 6 mg/kg daily for 8 days. If nonsusceptibility was detected, the following regimens were evaluated: no treatment for 4 days followed by daptomycin 6 mg/kg daily for 4 days, vancomycin 1 g every 12 h for 4 days followed by daptomycin 10 mg/kg daily for 4 days, and daptomycin 10 mg/kg daily for 8 days. The emergence of daptomycin nonsusceptibility (12- to 16-fold MIC increase) was detected only with the MSSA isolate with daptomycin 6 mg/kg daily for 4 days after vancomycin exposure. However, the bactericidal activity of daptomycin was maintained and the MIC increases of these isolates, which had no mprF or yycG mutations, were unstable to serial passage on antibiotic-free agar. Subsequent regimens did not demonstrate nonsusceptibility to daptomycin. These findings suggest that reduced daptomycin susceptibility can be a strain-specific and unstable event. Further evaluation of the susceptibility relationship between daptomycin and vancomycin is necessary to understand the factors involved and their clinical significance.     

Adjunctive rifampin is crucial to optimizing daptomycin efficacy against rabbit prosthetic joint infection due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Daptomycin is an attractive option for treating prosthetic joint infection, but the 6-mg/kg of body weight/day dose was linked to clinical failure and emergence of resistance. Using a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) knee prosthesis infection in rabbits, we studied the efficacies of high-dose daptomycin (22 mg/kg given intravenously [i.v.] once daily [o.d.]; equivalent to 8 mg/kg/day in humans) or vancomycin (60 mg/kg given intramuscularly [i.m.] twice daily [b.i.d.]), both either alone or with adjunctive rifampin (10 mg/kg i.m. b.i.d.). After partial knee replacement with a silicone implant, 10(7) MRSA CFU was injected into the knees. Treatment started 7 days postinoculation and lasted 7 days. Positive cultures were screened for the emergence of mutant strains, defined as having 3-fold-increased MICs. Although in vivo mean log(10) CFU/g of daptomycin-treated (4.23 ± 1.44; n = 12) or vancomycin-treated (4.63 ± 1.08; n = 12) crushed bone was significantly lower than that of controls (5.93 ± 1.15; n = 9) (P < 0.01), neither treatment sterilized bone (2/12 and 0/12 rabbits with sterile bone, respectively). Daptomycin mutant strains were found in 6/12, 3/12, and 2/9 daptomycin-treated, vancomycin-treated, and control rabbits, respectively; no resistant strains emerged (MIC was always <1 mg/liter). Adjunctive rifampin with daptomycin (1.47 ± 0.04 CFU/g of bone [detection threshold]; 11/11 sterile bones) or vancomycin (1.5 ± 0.12 CFU/g of bone; 6/8 sterile bones) was significantly more effective than monotherapy (P < 0.01) and prevented the emergence of daptomycin mutant strains. In this MRSA joint prosthesis infection model, combining rifampin with daptomycin was highly effective. Daptomycin mutant strains were isolated in vivo even without treatment, but adjunctive rifampin prevented this phenomenon, previously found after monotherapy in humans.     

Observational study to determine the optimal dose of daptomycin based on pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analysis

High doses of daptomycin (DAP) (>6 mg/kg/day) have been preliminarily recommended in recent practical guidelines for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection, to achieve better clinical effects. While such doses can elevate the plasma trough concentration (Cmin) of DAP, there is an associated risk of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) elevation warranting further investigation. In the current study relationships between DAP Cmin and CPK elevation were investigated, and optimal DAP doses were determined. Plasma DAP concentrations were measured in 20 patients. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess relationships between DAP Cmin and CPK elevation, then a population pharmacokinetic model of DAP was developed. To determine an optimal DAP dose a Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) was performed to minimize the risk of CPK elevation and maximize the probability of successful treatment. In logistic regression analysis DAP Cmin was significantly associated with CPK elevation (odds ratio 1.21, p = 0.048). With respect to dose-dependent increases in the probability of CPK elevation and exposure to DAP, MCS estimated an optimal DAP dose of 4–6 mg/kg/day, corresponding to a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ≤0.5 μg/mL. For an MIC of 1 μg/mL, MCS estimated an optimal DAP dose of 10 mg/kg/day. However, the probability of CPK elevation associated with high doses of DAP was higher than that associated with the approved doses. In cases where high doses of DAP are administered, close CPK monitoring is required and therapeutic drug monitoring of DAP may be desirable.     

Treatment of Gram-positive left-sided infective endocarditis with daptomycin

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of daptomycin in left-sided infective endocarditis (IE) patients. Fourteen patients with left heart endocarditis, monitored with a diagnosis of IE based on modified Duke criteria between July 2010 and May 2011, and receiving daptomycin as monotherapy, were enrolled. The success of daptomycin in these patients was revealed with improvements in microbiological, biochemical, and radiologic findings, as well as physical examination findings. Patient average age was 63.5 ± 14.2 years (36–80 years); 8 (57 %) were men and 6 (43 %) women. The pathogens methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (71.5 %), Streptococcus mutans (21.5 %), and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (7 %) were isolated from our patients. Daptomycin was used in initial treatment in 5 (36 %) patients; treatment was subsequently modified to daptomycin in 9 (64 %) patients as a consequence of drug serum level insufficiency, agent sensitivity to the drug administered, or drug side effects. Thirteen patients were discharged in a healthy condition, with successful surgical treatment in 5 (36 %). Only 1, an 80-year-old IE patient, was lost from advanced cardiac failure. No significant side effects were seen in any patient receiving daptomycin. The most frequent side effects were minimal rises in serum CPK levels during treatment; these values returned to normal after treatment. Daptomycin can be used successfully in left heart endocarditis with no significant side effects. Studies involving a wider patient series are now needed to support the use of daptomycin in left heart endocarditis.     

Daptomycin compared with teicoplanin and vancomycin for therapy of experimental Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis.

The efficacies of daptomycin, teicoplanin, and vancomycin were compared in the therapy of experimental Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis. Rabbits infected with either of two methicillin-susceptible strains (SA-12871 or its moderately teicoplanin-resistant derivative SA-12873) or a methicillin-resistant S. aureus strain (MRSA-494) were treated with daptomycin, 8 mg/kg of body weight, every 8 h; teicoplanin, 12.5 mg/kg (low-dose teicoplanin [teicoplanin-LD], excluding MRSA-494) or 40 mg/kg (high-dose teicoplanin [teicoplanin-HD]) every 12 h; or vancomycin, 17.5 mg/kg every 6 h, for 4 days. Compared with no treatment daptomycin, teicoplamin-HD, and vancomycin significantly reduced bacterial counts of all test strains in vegetations and renal and splenic tissues (P less than 0.001). Teicoplanin-LD was equally effective against SA-12871 but failed against SA-12873, with three of six animals still being bacteremic at the end of therapy. For SA-12871, daptomycin was as effective as teicoplanin-HD and was superior to teicoplanin-LD and vancomycin (P = 0.02) in lowering vegetation bacterial counts. There were no differences between daptomycin, teicoplanin-HD, or vancomycin in the reduction of bacterial counts in tissues for any of the test strains. In rabbits infected with SA-12871, vegetations from 33% of teicoplanin-LD-treated, 6% of teicoplanin-HD-treated, and 13% of daptomycin-treated animals yielded organisms for which there were up to eightfold increases in the MICs. Resistance may have contributed to early death in one daptomycin-treated animal. No increases in the MICs for the test strain were detected in animals infected with SA-12873 or MRSA-494. We conclude that in this model and against these strains of S. aureus, daptomycin and teicoplanin-HD are as efficacious as vancomycin, but diminished susceptibility to both can develop during therapy.     

Amplification-based DNA analysis in the diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection

Microbiological cultures are moderately sensitive for diagnosing prosthetic joint infection (PJI). This study was conducted to determine whether amplification-based DNA methods applied on intraoperative samples could enhance PJI diagnosis compared with culture alone in routine surgical practice. Revision arthroplasty was performed for suspected PJI (n = 41) and osteoarthrosis control (n = 28) patients, and a diagnosis of PJI was confirmed in 34 patients. Amplification by polymerase chain reaction was performed on both 16S ribosomal DNA universal target genes and femA Staphylococcus-specific target genes. Species identification was achieved through amplicon sequencing. Amplification of the femA gene led to subsequent testing for methicillin resistance by amplification of the mecA gene. Microbiological and molecular assays identified a causative organism in 22 of 34 patients (64.7%) and in 31 of 34 patients (91.2%), respectively. In 18 of the 22 culture-positive patients, molecular and microbiological results were concordant for bacterial genus, species, and/or methicillin resistance. Bacterial agents were identified only by molecular methods in nine PJI patients, including seven who were receiving antibiotics at the time of surgery and one with recent but not concomitant antibiotherapy. DNA-based methods were found to effectively complement microbiological methods, without interfering with existing procedures for sample collection, for the identification of causative pathogens from intraoperative PJI samples, especially in patients with recent or concomitant antibiotherapy.     

Comparative Efficacies of Cloxacillin-Daptomycin and the Standard Cloxacillin-Rifampin Therapies against an Experimental Foreign-Body Infection by Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus

We compared the efficacies of daptomycin (doses equivalent to 8 to 10 mg/kg of body weight/day in humans) and cloxacillin alone with those of cloxacillin-rifampin and cloxacillin-daptomycin combinations, using a tissue cage methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infection model. Monotherapies were less effective than combinations (P < 0.05), and daptomycin resistance emerged. Cloxacillin-daptomycin proved as effective as cloxacillin-rifampin and prevented the appearance of resistance; this combination may be an alternative anti-MSSA therapy, which may offer greater benefits in the early treatment of prosthetic joint infections (PJI).     

Daptomycin against multiple drug-resistant staphylococcus and enterococcus isolates in an in vitro pharmacodynamic model with simulated endocardial vegetations

Daptomycin is a lipopeptide antibiotic that exhibits bactericidal activity against Gram-positive bacteria. In pursuit of potential clinical dosing regimens for endocarditis, we evaluated two, once-daily daptomycin regimens against multiple, drug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens. Daptomycin susceptibility was determined in the absence and presence of physiologic concentrations of albumin. An in vitro pharmacodynamic model with simulated endocardial vegetations incorporating protein was used to simulate regimens of daptomycin at 6 and 8 mg/kg/day and vancomycin at 1 g every 12 h against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA-67 and 494) and S. epidermidis (MRSE-R227 and R617), glycopeptide-intermediate S. aureus and S. epidermidis (GISA-992 and GISE-12333), and vancomycin-resistant E. faecium (VREF-SF12047 and 12366). Bacterial quantification occurred over 72 h. Daptomycin MIC results for study isolates in the absence or presence of albumin ranged from 0.125 to 4 and 1 to 8, respectively. Both daptomycin regimens achieved greater than 99.9% kill by 8 h and demonstrated greater bacterial reduction than vancomycin against all tested isolates at 24, 48, and 72 h (p < 0.05). Undetectable limits of bacterial quantification was achieved and maintained by 8 mg/kg/day against MRSA-494 and 67, GISA-992, and VREF-590 for the study duration. Although slight regrowth was noted only for 6 mg/kg/day against MRSA-67, 99.9% kill was maintained throughout the study period without development of resistance. Pharmacodynamic profiles and drug exposure of daptomycin at 6 mg/kg/day corresponds to previously reported AUC/MIC requirements. These results suggest that 6 and 8 mg/kg/day of daptomycin represent potential regimens for further clinical evaluation in drug-resistant Gram-positive endocarditis.     

Evaluation of daptomycin treatment of Staphylococcus aureus bacterial endocarditis: an in vitro and in vivo simulation using historical and current dosing strategies

OBJECTIVES: A failure to daptomycin therapy and subsequent emergence of a daptomycin non-susceptible isolate occurred during the 1990 clinical investigation of daptomycin for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia and endocarditis. We attempted to determine if this occurrence was reproducible in vitro and if it could be prevented by various daptomycin dosing strategies. METHODS: The daptomycin susceptible parent strain (SA-675) and the subsequent non-susceptible derivative (SA-684) were evaluated. In the rabbit endocarditis model, daptomycin 3 mg/kg every 8 h for 4 days was administered to simulate the study patient's pharmacokinetic exposure. Daptomycin doses of 1.5 and 3 mg/kg every 12 h and 6 and 10 mg/kg every 24 and 48 h were simulated in the in vitro model with simulated endocardial vegetations (SEVs). RESULTS: Daptomycin significantly reduced bacterial counts of SA-675 in rabbits, but one in 10(5)-10(6) organisms from vegetations of one animal had an 8-fold increase in MIC. Daptomycin 1.5 mg/kg every 12 h in the in vitro model demonstrated no activity against either strain; reduced susceptibility emerged in SA-675 (4-fold increase in MIC). Bactericidal activity was noted with 6 and 10 mg/kg dosing against SA-675 with no resistance detected. The activity of the 6 mg/kg regimen was reduced against SA-684 but significantly improved activity was noted with 10 mg/kg daily. CONCLUSIONS: The emergence of resistance was successfully recreated at suboptimal dosing regimens while the current recommended regimen of 6 mg/kg/day prevented the emergence of non-susceptible mutants. Daptomycin 10 mg/kg/day demonstrated even more enhanced killing. Further investigation with daptomycin 10 mg/kg is warranted.     

Evaluation of daptomycin activity against Staphylococcus aureus in an in vitro pharmacodynamic model under normal and simulated impaired renal function

OBJECTIVES: Daptomycin is a lipopeptide antimicrobial that is primarily excreted by the kidney. We examined daptomycin bactericidal activity in an in vitro pharmacodynamic model (IVPM) under normal and simulated impaired renal function against methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). METHODS: Two clinical strains MSSA-1199 and MRSA-494 were used in an IVPM. MICs and MBCs were determined according to CLSI. Daptomycin free concentrations were simulated that corresponded to dose regimens of 4, 6 and 8 mg/kg every 24 h at 8 h t(1/2) (Scheme I) and every 48 h at 30 h t(1/2) (Scheme II). In addition, we simulated daptomycin free concentrations corresponding to fractional dose regimens of 2, 3 and 4 mg/kg every 24 h at 30 h t(1/2) (Scheme III). The targeted C(max free)/MIC for 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 mg/kg against MSSA-1199 ranged from 5.2 to 21.2. The targeted C(max free)/MIC for 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 mg/kg against MRSA-494 ranged from 10.4 to 42.2. The targeted AUC(free)/MIC for Schemes I, II and III against MSSA-1199 ranged from 94 to 392. The targeted AUC(free)/MIC for Schemes I, II and III against MRSA-494 ranged from 188 to 581. Bactericidal activity and the potential for resistance were determined over 96 h. All models were completed in triplicate. RESULTS: Daptomycin MICs (MBCs) for MSSA-1199 and MRSA-494 were 0.5 (1.0) mg/L and 0.25 (0.25) mg/L, respectively. Daptomycin 6 and 8 mg/kg at both 8 and 30 h t(1/2) achieved 99.9% kill as early as 1 h. Daptomycin 4 mg/kg achieved 99.9% kill as early as 1 h when given at 8 and 30 h t(1/2) but was not maintained to an endpoint of 96 h (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, there was no difference in kill noted for daptomycin regimens at 4, 6 and 8 mg/kg every 24 h at 8 h t(1/2) versus every 48 h at 30 h t(1/2). Fractional doses of daptomycin at 30 h t(1/2) were inferior to daptomycin regimens of 4, 6 and 8 mg/kg administered every 48 h (P = 0.03).     

Pharmacokinetics of single-dose daptomycin in patients with suspected or confirmed neurological infections

There are currently few or no published data on the amount of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) penetration of daptomycin in patients with suspected or documented neurosurgical infections. We conducted a prospective study, assessing the pharmacokinetics and CSF penetration of a single intravenous daptomycin dose administered at 10 mg/kg, based on total body weight (TBW), in six neurosurgical patients with indwelling external CSF shunts with suspected or documented meningitis or ventriculitis. Each patient had four blood and CSF samples drawn simultaneously at specific times after the end of infusion: 30 min, 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h. Pharmacokinetic parameters of daptomycin in serum were calculated using standard noncompartmental methods, and daptomycin was assayed using high-performance liquid chromatography (for serum) or liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (for CSF). The mean (± standard deviation [SD]) maximum measured daptomycin concentrations were 93.7 ± 17.3 mg/liter in serum at 0.5 h postinfusion and 0.461 ± 0.51 mg/liter in CSF at 6 h postinfusion. The mean (± SD) daptomycin minimum concentrations were 13.8 ± 4.8 mg/liter in serum at 24 h postinfusion and 0.126 ± 0.12 mg/liter in CSF at 0.5 h postinfusion. The mean daptomycin penetration, determined by the area under the concentration-time curve in CSF (AUC(CSF))/(AUC(serum) ratio), was 0.8%. Corrected for protein binding, the overall CSF penetration was 11.5%. Additional pharmacokinetic studies evaluating multiple and/or higher dosages of daptomycin are necessary in human subjects to better characterize the CSF penetration of daptomycin in neurosurgical patients.