Real-World Experience with Oritavancin Therapy in Invasive Gram-Positive Infections

Oritavancin is a novel lipoglycopeptide approved for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections. The pharmacokinetic profile and convenient one-time dosing make oritavancin an enticing option for other serious Gram-positive infections requiring prolonged treatment courses. Unfortunately, data for using oritavancin in these populations are limited.

We report ten cases of oritavancin use for invasive Gram-positive infections in our health system, and provide a review of the currently available literature regarding oritavancin therapy for invasive infections.

Among the ten patients who received oritavancin, the most common infection was methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) bacteremia (n = 5, 50%). Other indications for oritavancin use included methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) bursitis (n = 1, 10%), group B streptococcal bacteremia with native tricuspid valve infective endocarditis (n = 1, 10%), coagulase-negative staphylococcal bacteremia (n = 1, 10%), MSSA deep tissue infection (n = 1, 10%), and enterococcal bacteremia (n = 1, 10%). Oritavancin was well tolerated, and 7/10 (70%) patients were successfully treated.

Oritavancin is a potential option for patients with invasive Gram-positive infections. Further study is warranted.