Pharmacologic options for CNS infections caused by resistant Gram-positive organisms

Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2008 Feb;6(1):83-99. doi: 10.1586/14787210.6.1.83.

Abstract

Infectious disease continues to evolve, presenting new and challenging clinical situations for practitioners. Specific to device-related and neurosurgical-related CNS infections, Gram-positive organisms are of growing concern. Current Infection Disease Society of America guidelines for the treatment of CNS infections offer little direction after conventional therapy, consisting of vancomycin, has failed or the patient has demonstrated intolerance. A review of literature evaluating alternative therapies, specifically linezolid, quinupristin/dalfopristin, daptomycin and tigecycline, will be presented. Interpretations of these data are offered followed by a brief presentation of future therapies, including ortavancin, telavancin, dalbavancin, ceftobiprole and iclaprim, all of which possess potent Gram-positive activity.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Central Nervous System Infections / drug therapy*
  • Central Nervous System Infections / microbiology
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / drug effects
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / physiology
  • Drugs, Investigational / chemistry
  • Drugs, Investigational / pharmacology*
  • Drugs, Investigational / therapeutic use
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / drug therapy*
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Humans

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Drugs, Investigational