Quinupristin/dalfopristin

Quinupristin/dalfopristin

Quinupristin (top) and dalfopristin (bottom)
Combination of
Quinupristin Streptogramin antibiotic
Dalfopristin Streptogramin antibiotic
Clinical data
Pregnancy
category
Routes of
administration
IV
Legal status
  • ℞-only (U.S.)
Identifiers
CAS Number 126602-89-9 N
ATC code J01FG02 (WHO)
PubChem CID 23724510
ChemSpider 21106373 YesY
 NYesY (what is this?)  (verify)

Quinupristin/dalfopristin (pronunciation: kwi NYOO pris tin / dal FOE pris tin) (trade name Synercid) is a combination of two antibiotics used to treat infections by staphylococci and by vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium.

Quinupristin and dalfopristin are both streptogramin antibiotics, derived from pristinamycin. Quinupristin is derived from pristinamycin IA; dalfopristin from pristinamycin IIA. They are combined in a weight-to-weight ratio of 30% quinupristin to 70% dalfopristin.

Administration

Intravenous, usually 7.5 mg/kg every 8–12 hours

Mechanism of action

Quinupristin and dalfopristin are protein synthesis inhibitors in a synergistic manner. While each of the two is only a bacteriostatic agent, the combination shows bactericidal activity.

Pharmacokinetics

Clearance by the liver, half-life 1–3 hours (with persistence of effects for 9–10 hours).

Side effects

  1. Joint aches (arthralgia) or muscle aches (myalgia)
  2. Nausea, diarrhea or vomiting
  3. Rash or itching
  4. Headache
  5. Phlebitis
  6. Hyperbilirubinemia

Drug interactions

The drug inhibits P450 and enhances the effects of terfenadine, astemizole, indinavir, midazolam, calcium channel blockers, warfarin, cisapride and ciclosporin.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Page 212 in: Title: Hugo and Russell's pharmaceutical microbiology Authors: William Barry Hugo, Stephen P. Denyer, Norman A. Hodges, Sean P. Gorman Edition: 7, illustrated Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell, 2004 ISBN 0-632-06467-6, ISBN 978-0-632-06467-0 Length: 481 pages

Further reading

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