Daptomycin

Abstract

Daptomycin, the first in a class of agents known as lipopeptides, is a novel antimicrobial agent used for the treatment of gram-positive infections. The compound has a distinctive mechanism of action that exerts its bactericidal activity by disrupting plasma membrane function without penetrating into the cytoplasm. The agent has received much interest because of its activity against multidrug-resistant, gram-positive bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant enterococci, and glycopeptide-intermediate and -resistant S. aureus. Daptomycin demonstrates concentration-dependent killing and is eliminated primarily by glomerular filtration. It was approved in September 2003 for the treatment of complicated skin and soft tissue infections. It has a safety profile similar to other agents commonly administered to treat gram-positive infections. Daptomycin is a welcome addition to the antimicrobial armamentarium for the treatment of bacterial infections. Further clinical experience with this compound will help define its role in the treatment of resistant gram-positive organisms.