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Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
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Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria

Published on: May 8, 2013

Six cases of daptomycin-non-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia in Singapore

Li-Yang Hsu1, Micky Leong1, Michelle Balm1

  • 1National University Health System, Singapore.

Journal of Medical Microbiology
|August 14, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Daptomycin-non-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus emerged rapidly in Singaporean patients after vancomycin treatment failure. Cell wall thickening was observed, indicating potential daptomycin therapeutic failure even with initial susceptibility.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia often requires prolonged antibiotic therapy.
  • Vancomycin is a common treatment, but resistance can emerge.
  • Daptomycin is an alternative salvage therapy for difficult infections.

Observation:

  • Six cases of daptomycin-non-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia in Singapore are reported.
  • These resistant strains were isolated shortly after switching from vancomycin to daptomycin.
  • Patients initially showed daptomycin susceptibility before therapy initiation.

Findings:

  • A majority of post-vancomycin strains exhibited significant cell wall thickening.
  • This morphological change may correlate with reduced daptomycin susceptibility.
  • Rapid emergence of non-susceptibility occurred despite prior susceptibility confirmation.

Implications:

  • Daptomycin may fail as salvage therapy for persistent S. aureus bacteraemia post-vancomycin.
  • Vancomycin treatment failure followed by daptomycin use requires careful monitoring.
  • Understanding mechanisms of daptomycin resistance is crucial for effective treatment strategies.

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