Dalbavancin in-vitro activity obtained against Gram-positive clinical isolates causing bone and joint infections in US and European hospitals (2011-2016)

Abstract

Background: Osteomyelitis is a difficult-to-treat infection that regularly involves prolonged use of systemic antibiotics. Dalbavancin has demonstrated activity against Gram-positive isolates, and has been considered as a candidate for the treatment of osteomyelitis in adults and children. This study evaluated the activity of dalbavancin against pathogens isolated from bone and joint infections (BJI).

Methods: Eight hundred and one Staphylococcus aureus, 160 coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), 164 β-haemolytic streptococci (BHS), 82 Enterococcus faecalis and 45 viridans group streptococci (VGS) causing BJI were collected consecutively (2011-2016) and tested for susceptibility by broth microdilution methods.

Results: S. aureus (64.0%) was the most common pathogen associated with BJI, followed by BHS (13.1%) and CoNS (12.8%). All S. aureus (33.3% meticillin-resistant) isolates were susceptible to dalbavancin, linezolid and vancomycin, while daptomycin and clindamycin showed susceptibility rates of 99.5% and 89.0%, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) results for dalbavancin were at least eight-fold lower than these comparators against all S. aureus. Dalbavancin was the most potent agent against CoNS (63.1% meticillin-resistant), followed by daptomycin, linezolid and vancomycin. All E. faecalis isolates were inhibited by dalbavancin at ≤0.25 mg/L (US Food and Drug Administration susceptibility breakpoint), except for three vancomycin-resistant isolates. High susceptibility rates for ampicillin (98.8%), daptomycin (100.0%), linezolid (100.0%) and vancomycin (95.1%) were obtained against E. faecalis. Dalbavancin was very active against BHS (MIC₉₀ ≤0.03 µg/mL), and was the most active agent against VGS (highest MIC ≤0.06 mg/L). Ceftriaxone, daptomycin and vancomycin were also active (93.3-100.0% susceptible) against VGS, whereas clindamycin (84.4% susceptible) had marginal activity.

Conclusion: Dalbavancin appears to be a viable candidate for treating BJI/osteomyelitis caused by Gram-positive cocci.

Keywords: MRSA; Osteomyelitis; Prosthetic joint infections; Septic arthritis; Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis.