Daptomycin is a powerful antibiotic used to treat serious bacterial infections, especially those caused by Gram-positive bacteria that are resistant to other antibiotics.
💊 Quick Facts about Daptomycin:
| Property | Details |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Lipopeptide antibiotic |
| Brand Name | Cubicin |
| Route of Administration | Intravenous (IV) only |
| Spectrum | Active primarily against Gram-positive bacteria |
| Mechanism of Action | Disrupts the bacterial cell membrane, causing ion leakage and cell death |
| Bactericidal or Static? | Bactericidal (kills bacteria) |
🔬 Used To Treat:
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MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
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VRE (Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci)
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Complicated skin and soft tissue infections
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Bacteremia (bacteria in the blood)
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Right-sided infective endocarditis (caused by Staph aureus)
⚠️ Note: Not effective for pneumonia because it is inactivated by lung surfactant.
⚠️ Side Effects:
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Muscle toxicity → can increase creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels (monitor weekly)
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Eosinophilic pneumonia (rare but serious)
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GI upset, injection site reactions