The FDA has approved a new form of an antibiotic called daptomycin, mixed in a saltwater solution. This medicine treats serious skin infections and a type of blood infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus, including a heart infection on the right side. It is for adults and children 1 to 17 years old. The new form is ready to use, which may save time for healthcare workers.
Daptomycin works against many Gram-positive bacteria, including MRSA, a common and hard-to-treat germ. This approval gives doctors another tool for these serious infections. However, it is not for all infections. It should not be used for pneumonia or for a heart infection on the left side caused by Staphylococcus aureus. It is also not recommended for children under 1 year old because of possible nerve and muscle effects seen in baby dogs.
The dose must be adjusted for kidney function, and the ready-to-use product comes only in fixed amounts: 350 mg, 500 mg, 700 mg, or 1,000 mg. That may not fit every patient's weight-based dose. If you or your child has a serious infection, talk with your doctor about whether this medicine is right for you. This news does not mean you should ask for this drug or change any treatment on your own.