[Controlled study of pristinamycin versus oxacillin in staphylococcal infections ]

A prospective double-blind study was conducted in patients hospitalized with a staphylococcal infection. The effects of oxacillin (4-6 g/d) and pristinamycin (2-3 g/d) were compared. These were 52 cutaneous infections and 17 other ones. The results of the two antibiotics effects were not different. Tolerance was appreciated in the 82 patients who entered the study: pristinamycin had fewer (but not significantly different) side effects than oxacillin (3/37 vs 9/45). As pristinamycin is active in vitro on at least 95 p. cent of strains, we concluded that it can be the first choice antibiotic in staphylococcal infections when the oral route is possible.