Ticagrelor Increases Platelet-Mediated Staphylococcus aureus Killing, Resulting in Clearance of Bacteremia

Erlinda R Ulloa1,2, Satoshi Uchiyama3, Robert Gillespie4

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, California, USA.

Platelets are a critical immune defense against Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections. Staphylococcus aureus α-toxin is a virulence factor that decreases platelet viability and accelerates platelet clearance. It has been shown that ticagrelor blocks α-toxin-mediated platelet injury and resulting thrombocytopenia, protecting mice in a lethal S. aureus sepsis model. We now present the use of ticagrelor as adjunctive therapy in a patient with a S. aureus endovascular infection and thrombocytopenia, associated with restoration of platelet count and bacteremia clearance. Ticagrelor enhanced platelet killing of the S. aureus bloodstream isolate from the treated patient in vitro.

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