Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 11, 2026

A Reference Broth Microdilution Method for Dalbavancin In Vitro Susceptibility Testing of Bacteria that Grow Aerobically
11:28

A Reference Broth Microdilution Method for Dalbavancin In Vitro Susceptibility Testing of Bacteria that Grow Aerobically

Published on: September 9, 2015

Expanding the Role of Dalbavancin in Children: A Case Series and Systematic Review

Victoria Domínguez-León1, María José Muñoz-Vilches2, Concepción Álvarez Del Vayo Benito3

  • 1Department of Pediatrics.

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|August 10, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Dalbavancin demonstrates good tolerability and effectiveness in pediatric patients with severe Gram-positive infections. This long-acting antibiotic shows promise for facilitating early discharge and outpatient management in children.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatric Pharmacology
  • Antimicrobial Therapy

Background:

  • Dalbavancin is a long-acting lipoglycopeptide antibiotic effective against Gram-positive bacteria.
  • It is approved for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections.
  • Its pharmacokinetic profile and tolerability suggest potential for pediatric use, including off-label indications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review the safety and effectiveness of dalbavancin in pediatric patients.
  • To evaluate dalbavancin's role in managing severe Gram-positive infections in children.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines (2010-2025).
  • Inclusion of clinical trials, pharmacokinetic studies, systematic reviews, and case series.
  • A retrospective observational study of pediatric patients treated with dalbavancin (2023-2025).

Main Results:

  • Ten studies met inclusion criteria.
  • Seven pediatric patients (ages 5-17) with comorbidities were included in the institutional case series.
  • Infections included osteoarticular, endocarditis, septic thrombophlebitis, and device-related infections.
  • Dalbavancin use aimed to shorten IV therapy, improve adherence, and facilitate early discharge.
  • All patients achieved clinical cure without relapse; no adverse events were observed.

Conclusions:

  • Dalbavancin is well-tolerated and associated with favorable outcomes in selected pediatric patients with severe Gram-positive infections.
  • It supports early discharge and outpatient management strategies.
  • Further prospective multicenter studies are necessary to define its safety and effectiveness beyond skin infections.
Abstract

Keywords:
Gram-positive infectionsdalbavancinosteomyelitisoutpatient antimicrobial therapypediatric infections

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...