Clinical and microbiological efficacy of tigecycline for complicated skin-soft-tissue and intra-abdominal infections in a Turkish university hospital.

OBJECTIVE: Tigecycline, a new glycylcycline antimicrobial agent, is indicated for the treatment of complicated skin structure infection (cSSTI), intra-abdominal infection (cIAI) and community acquired pneumonia. We aimed to evaluate the clinical and microbiological data together about tigecycline therapy.

METHODS: Patients with cIAIs and cSSTIs were included in a prospective, observational follow-up. Patient follow-up forms were developed and clinical and microbiological data were recorded.

RESULTS: Of the 107 patients, 67 had cSSTIs, 40 had cIAIs. Tigecycline was used empirically in 37.5% of cIAIs and in 50.7% of cSSTIs. In 85.0% of the patients with cIAI and in 73.1% of the patients with cSSTI, clinical and/or microbiological response could be achieved. A drug change was made in 26.9% and 7.5% of the patients with cSSTI and cIAI respectively. Superinfection was detected in 14.9% of the cSSTI and 7.5% of the cIAI patients.

CONCLUSION: As a result, tigecycline can be safely used in the treatment of different infections. Compared with cSSTIs, the treatment response is better and the duration of treatment is shorter in cIAIs. However, MIC value must be determined at any rate if tigecycline is to be used in the treatment of Acinetobacter (MDR Acinetobacter, in particular) infections. Clinical cure and microbiological eradication rate of tigecycline therapy changes according to different clinical diagnosis and microorganism.