Evaluation of tigecycline use : a continuous quality improvement study

Abstract EN

Tigecycline is the first available agent in the new class of glycylcyclines.

It is active against multi-resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Although it is recently approved, resistance of tigecycline is reported by many strains of bacteria.

Moreover, it is one of the most expensive antimicrobials in the market.

A retrospective longitudinal study conducted at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah.

All patients who received tigecycline from March to November 2010 were included in this study.

Data regarding indication of tigecycline, monitoring process and the outcome of treatment were all collected via patient chart review form, and obtained from patient’s file.

A total of 92 patients were administered tigecycline in the study period.

In 23 (25%) patients, tigecycline was used for unapproved indications and the most common indications of tigecycline were complicated skin and soft tissue infections community acquired pneumonia.

The overall outcomes were healing in 50 (54%) patients, infection treated with other drugs in 10 (11%) patients and death was reported in 32 (35%) patients.

This study confirmed the high mortality rate associated with tigecycline use, and this should be a reminder to healthcare professional when considering its use in severely infected patients or when to be used as a monotherapy in empirical situation.