Chronic antibiotic suppressive therapy with dalbavancin: a case series

Abstract

Dalbavancin is a relatively new long-acting anti-Gram positive antimicrobial approved for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structures infections. An increasing number of observational studies and case series were published on its off-label uses. Great interest is emerging about complicated cases where antibiotic treatment cannot be discontinued, and a chronic suppressive therapy is needed. We described a case series of 6 patients treated or ongoing on treatment with dalbavancin as chronic suppressive therapy (CAST) administered with the following regimen: dalbavancin 1500 mg on day 1 and 8 and then every 4 weeks. CAST median duration was 27 weeks. Five out of 6 patients reached a good clinical control of the infection (one of them completely resolved) while in one case we observed a recurrence of the infection. No adverse events were detected. Larger studies are needed to better clarify dalbavancin off-label uses and the most appropriate dose regimen.

Keywords:

• Dalbavancin
• chronic antibiotic suppressive therapy
• CAST

Authors’ contributions

CP and AT conceived the study. AT, MA, GG, ES and AG collected data about 5 patients. ST collected data about the remaining patient. CP, AT and MA wrote the draft. CP and DF revised the draft. DF supervised the whole study. All the Authors meet the ICMJE criteria for authorship.

Disclosure statement

All Authors have no competing interests to declare.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from the patients. According to the local Ethics Committee, due to the retrospective and observational nature of the study, a formal Ethics Committee approval was waived.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific gran from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.