Telavancin (Vibativ– Astellas and Theravance), a lipoglycopeptide derivative of vancomycin (Vancocin, and others), has received FDA approval for treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections caused by susceptible gram-positive bacteria in adults.

MECHANISM OF ACTION — Telavancin inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis and disrupts bacterial cell membrane function.

ACTIVITY — In vitro, telavancin is bactericidal against Staphylococcus aureus (including methicillin-resistant strains [MRSA]), Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus pneumoniae (including penicillin-resistant isolates), Streptococcus angiosus group, and Enterococcus faecalis (vancomycin-susceptible isolates only).

Medical Letter consultants believe telavancin will prove to have no useful activity against ... more      

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