Ramoplanin: a novel antimicrobial agent with the potential to prevent vancomycin-resistant enterococcal infection in high-risk patients.

Abstract

The prevention of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) colonization and infection continues to be a high priority for clinicians. An oral antimicrobial agent that reduces or eliminates VRE gastrointestinal colonization could be useful for preventing VRE infection in selected patients. Ramoplanin, a glycolipodepsipeptide, is the first in a new class of antimicrobials. It has excellent in vitro activity against vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis. It is orally administered, and not absorbed systemically. In clinical trials, VRE gastrointestinal colonization was reduced to undetectable levels in 80-90% of patients during receipt of ramoplanin. A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled multicentre study is currently being conducted to determine whether ramoplanin will prevent VRE bloodstream infection in oncology patients who are neutropenic due to treatment for a haematological malignancy or a bone marrow/stem cell transplant.

• Authors: Marisa A Montecalvo
• Journal: The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy (J Antimicrob Chemother) Vol. 51 Suppl 3 Pg. iii31-5 (Jun 2003) ISSN: 0305-7453 [Print] England
• PMID: 12801940 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Depsipeptides
• Peptides, Cyclic
• ramoplanin

Topics

• Anti-Bacterial Agents (therapeutic use)
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Depsipeptides
• Enterococcus (drug effects, genetics, isolation & purification)
• Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections (prevention & control)
• Humans
• Neoplasms (complications)
• Opportunistic Infections (prevention & control)
• Peptides, Cyclic (therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome
• Vancomycin Resistance (genetics)