On page 100 of the article "Major Changes in Endocarditis Prophylaxis for Dental, GI and GU Procedures", under the section Highest-Risk Procedures, the word "rubber" should have been omitted. Placement of orthodontic rubber bands is not a highest-risk procedure that justifies prophylaxis; placement of orthodontic (metal) bands is. An orthodontic band is a metal ring that surrounds the tooth and is pressed into place causing movement in closely-spaced teeth and sometimes bleeding when the bands are placed close to the gumline.

Eravacycline (Xerava – Tetraphase), a new synthetic tetracycline antibiotic, has been approved by the FDA for IV treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAIs) in adults. Eravacycline is structurally similar to tigecycline (Tygacil, and generics), a broad-spectrum tetracycline approved by the FDA for IV treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections, complicated intra-abdominal infections, and community-acquired pneumonia. A higher rate of mortality has been reported with use of tigecycline compared to other antibacterial drugs; it should be used only...

Antimicrobial prophylaxis can decrease the incidence of postoperative surgical site infection after some procedures. Since the last Medical Letter article on this subject, consensus guidelines have been published. Recommendations for prophylaxis in specific surgical procedures are listed in Table 1.

The FDA has approved delafloxacin (Baxdela – Melinta), an anionic fluoroquinolone antibiotic, for oral and parenteral treatment of adults with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs), including those caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). It is the first fluoroquinolone to be approved for treatment of MRSA.

Most respiratory tract infections are caused by viruses. Bacterial respiratory tract infections are usually treated empirically with antibiotic therapy that targets the most probable causative pathogens. Recommended antibiotic regimens for outpatient treatment of some common respiratory tract infections are listed in Table 1 for adults and Table 2 for children.

The FDA has warned that use of the macrolide antibiotic clarithromycin (Biaxin, and generics) may increase the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with heart disease.

View the Comparison Table: Some Oral Anticoagulants for VTE

The FDA has approved two new drugs for treatment of adults with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections caused by susceptible gram-positive bacteria. Dalbavancin (Dalvance – Durata) is a long-acting intravenous (IV) lipoglycopeptide antibiotic similar to telavancin (Vibativ). Tedizolid phosphate (Sivextro – Cubist) is an IV and oral oxazolidinone antibacterial drug similar to linezolid (Zyvox). A third IV antibiotic, oritavancin (Orbactiv), recently approved by the FDA for the same indication, will be reviewed in a future...

The FDA has approved omadacycline (Nuzyra – Paratek), a semisynthetic tetracycline derivative, for once-daily IV and oral treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CAP) and acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs) in adults.

Anticoagulants are the drugs of choice for treatment and prevention of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), collectively referred to as venous thromboembolism (VTE). US guidelines for treatment of VTE were updated in 2020 and 2021.