Treating Osteomyelitis with Vancomycin: Risk for Vancomycin Resistance?

Prolonged antibiotic therapy, as is necessary for osteomyelitis, involves risks for adverse drug events and the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens. In recent years, experts have . . .

Prolonged antibiotic therapy, as is necessary for osteomyelitis, involves risks for adverse drug events and the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens. In recent years, experts have feared that long-term vancomycin use in Staphylococcus aureus-colonized or -infected patients would lead to development of vancomycin-intermediate and -resistant S. aureus. In a small observational study, researchers in Switzerland and France watched for the emergence of such organisms in 34 patients with methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) osteomyelitis.

Patients received standard-dose (20 mg/kg/day; mean duration, 34 days) or high-dose (40 mg/kg/day; mean duration, 37 days) intravenous vancomycin, adjusted to achieve trough serum levels of 10-15 mg/L and 20-2…

Reviewing Author

Linda M. Mundy, MD