Linezolid versus vancomycin for skin and soft tissue infections

Vancomycin and linezolid: severe cutaneous adverse reactions to drugs

BACKGROUND

Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), including Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS), and Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis (AGEP), pose significant therapeutic challenges. Vancomycin and linezolid have been linked to these life-threatening conditions, necessitating a better understanding of their associated risks.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis using data from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database. Disproportionality and Bayesian statistical analyses were applied to evaluate the associations between vancomycin, linezolid, and SCARs, comparing the outcomes induced by these drugs.

RESULTS

Of the 11,737,133 data, there were a total of 1024 vancomycin-associated SCARs and 125 cases of linezolid-associated SCARs. Vancomycin was strongly associated with DRESS, showing a Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR) of 53.79 (95% CI: 49.75-58.16), Proportional Reporting Ratio (PRR) of 50.38, and Empirical Bayesian Geometric Mean (EBGM) of 2.32. For SJS and TEN, vancomycin reported RORs of 8.04 and 15.63, respectively. Linezolid demonstrated lower associations, with RORs of 5.14 for DRESS and 2.36 for SJS.

CONCLUSIONS

Vancomycin presents a higher risk of SCARs compared to linezolid, particularly for DRESS. Underscoring the need for cautious use and the potential benefit of personalized medicine practices to improve patient safety.

Clinical Impact of Staphylococcus aureus Skin and Soft Tissue Infections

The pathogenic bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is the most common pathogen isolated in skin-and-soft-tissue infections (SSTIs) in the United States. Most S. aureus SSTIs are caused by the epidemic clone USA300 in the USA. These infections can be serious; in 2019, SSTIs with S. aureus were associated with an all-cause, age-standardized mortality rate of 0.5 globally. Clinical presentations of S. aureus SSTIs vary from superficial infections with local symptoms to monomicrobial necrotizing fasciitis, which can cause systemic manifestations and may lead to serious complications or death. In order to cause skin infections, S. aureus employs a host of virulence factors including cytolytic proteins, superantigenic factors, cell wall-anchored proteins, and molecules used for immune evasion. The immune response to S. aureus SSTIs involves initial responders such as keratinocytes and neutrophils, which are supported by dendritic cells and T-lymphocytes later during infection. Treatment for S. aureus SSTIs is usually oral therapy, with parenteral therapy reserved for severe presentations; it ranges from cephalosporins and penicillin agents such as oxacillin, which is generally used for methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA), to vancomycin for methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Treatment challenges include adverse effects, risk for Clostridioides difficile infection, and potential for antibiotic resistance.

Role of Daptomycin in Cutaneous Wound Healing: A Narrative Review

Daptomycin is active against Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the on-label indications for its use include complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI). We performed a narrative review of the literature with the aim to evaluate the role of daptomycin in the skin wound healing process, proposing our point of view on the possible association with other molecules that could improve the skin healing process. Daptomycin may improve wound healing in MRSA-infected burns, surgical wounds, and diabetic feet, but further studies in humans with histological examination are needed. In the future, the combination of daptomycin with other molecules with synergistic action, such as vitamin E and derivates, IB-367, RNA III-inhibiting peptide (RIP), and palladium nanoflowers, may help to improve wound healing and overcome forms of antibiotic resistance.