Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026
Analysis of 18FDG PET/CT Imaging as a Tool for Studying Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection and Treatment in Non-human Primates
Published on: September 5, 2017
Tigecycline Use in Pediatrics: A Comprehensive Analysis of Clinical, Laboratory, and Microbiological Factors
Gül Arga1, Duygu Öcal2, Halil Özdemir1
1Department of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye.
Insights
Tigecycline shows promise in pediatric patients, especially for targeted therapy, with high success rates and few adverse events. It may be a valuable option when other treatments fail or are unavailable.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Antimicrobial Stewardship
- Clinical Pharmacology
Background:
- Tigecycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic.
- Its use in pediatric populations is less established.
- Understanding its efficacy and safety in children is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate indications for tigecycline use in pediatric patients.
- To assess clinical and microbiological outcomes.
- To identify factors influencing treatment success and mortality.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective evaluation of 66 pediatric patients receiving tigecycline over 12 years.
- Analysis of empirical vs. targeted therapy, indications, and outcomes.
- Assessment of treatment success and mortality rates.
Main Results:
- Tigecycline was used primarily for off-label indications (81.8%), including bacteremia.
- Microbiological success was higher with targeted therapy (P=.02).
- Mortality was increased in bacteremic patients treated with tigecycline (P=.007).
Conclusions:
- Tigecycline can be an important adjunctive antibiotic in children.
- It is useful when alternatives are limited or ineffective.
- Further research into pediatric tigecycline use is warranted.
Objective:
This study aimed to evaluate the indications and clinical and microbiological outcomes of tigecycline use in pediatric patients and to analyze the factors associated with treatment success and mortality.
Methods:
The patients receiving tigecycline antibiotic therapy at a tertiary university hospital over a 12-year period were evaluated.
Results:
During the study period, tigecycline was used in 66 patients. The median age of the patients was 11 years (range: 2 months to 18 years), and 40 (60.6%) were male. While 53% of the patients received empirical treatment, 46.9% received targeted therapy. The majority of patients (81.8%) received tigecycline for "off-label" indications, with bacteremia being the most common "off-label" indication. Microbiological and clinical success rates were 77.1% and 66.7%, respectively. While clinical success did not differ significantly between empiric and targeted therapy groups (P=.22), microbiological success was significantly higher in the targeted therapy group (P=.02). No statistically significant differences were observed between indication types. However, mortality was higher in patients with bacteremia who were treated with tigecycline compared with the non-bacteremic group (P=.007). Tigecycline was combined with other antibiotics in all patients. No serious adverse events requiring discontinuation of tigecycline treatment or dose revision were observed during follow-up.
Conclusions:
This study suggests that tigecycline, due to its broad spectrum of antibacterial activity, may be an important option in children in combination with other antibiotics in the absence of alternative options or in the absence of response to treatment.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
01:24Automated Microbial Diagnostics
01:29Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Affecting Factors
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
01:25Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance
01:24Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism