Dalbavancin treatment of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus pyomyositis with torpid evolution: a case report

Sir,

Clinical guidelines for skin and soft tissue infections complicated by bacteraemia recommend treatment of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infection with cloxacillin or cefazolin and drainage of abscesses, if required [1]. We present a case of bacteraemic multiple pyomyositis associated with subcutaneous abscesses and acromioclavicular arthritis refractory to treatment with optimal doses of cloxacillin and clindamycin, which was resolved after switching to dalbavancin.

A 57-year-old man with a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus with adequate glycemic control presented to the emergency department for pain in the left hip that had started 5 days previously, with subsequent onset of pain in the left forearm and right shoulder. He had neither fever nor shivering. On physical examination, his blood pressure was 131/70 mmHg, heart rate 100 bpm and temperature 37°C. He had fluctuating oedema in the right acromioclavicular joint and a swelling in the muscles of the right forearm. Laboratory tests showed leukocytes 25,570/mL, erythrocyte sedimentation rate 109 mm/h and C-reactive protein 36.9 mg/dL. Empirical antibiotic therapy was started with ceftriaxone (2 g every 24 hours), cloxacillin (2 g every 4 hours) and vancomycin (adjusted according to the weight of the patient). MSSA (minimun inhibitory concentration [MIC] ≤0.25 mg/L) was isolated in blood cultures, with a vancomycin MIC of 1 mg/L. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a left iliopsoas muscle abscess. Scintigraphy showed numerous subcutaneous abscesses in both thighs, the left forearm and right arm. Incision and drainage of the psoas abscess was performed, isolating S. aureus with the same susceptibility pattern as in the blood cultures. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography found no lesions suggestive of endocarditis.

Antibiotic therapy was modified according to antimicrobial susceptibility testing to cloxacillin (2 g every 4 hours) with rapid resolution of the bacteraemia, disappearance of fever and decrease in acute phase reactants. After two weeks the patient had a torpid evolution with reappearance of fever and leukocytosis. New muscle abscesses and enlargement of psoas and left thigh abscess were detected. Clindamycin was added according to antibiogram. Surgical drainage of abscesses was performed on many occasions (S. aureus with the same susceptibility pattern was isolated at all times) with emergence of new abscesses after drainage, despite intravenous antibiotics for 5 weeks.

Given his poor progress, dalbavancin (1,500 mg dose) was administered, after which he presented gradual clinical improvement. At a check-up in the clinic one month later, residual abscesses and increased acute phase reactants were observed, so he was given a final 1,500 mg dose of dalbavancin, with both clinical and radiological resolution of the infectious process.

The case presented exemplifies a problem in staphylococcal infections: despite adequate β-lactam antibiotic therapy and drainage of abscesses, the infection progressed slowly with emergence of new lesions, even after the addition of an antibiotic that inhibits protein synthesis and that has good skin and soft tissue diffusion, namely clindamycin. The switch to dalbavancin treatment brought about a marked clinical improvement, with resolution of the abscesses.

Dalbavancin is a lipoglycopeptide antibiotic, derived structurally from a teicoplanin-like natural glycopeptide produced by Nonomuria spp [2]. It is approved for the treatment of acute skin and soft tissue infections in adults caused by Gram-positive bacteria. Its mechanism of action is the same as that of vancomycin, but dalbavancin also has a lipophilic side chain that anchors it to lipid II in the bacterial cell membrane, strengthening its adherence to the D-alanyl-D-alanine target site and enhancing its activity. It has high plasma protein binding and a long half-life, which allows once-weekly dosing [3].

The susceptibility breakpoint defined by the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) is ≤0.125 mg/L for staphylococci [4]. A 2009 study that analysed the in vitro activity of dalbavancin against gram-positive microorganisms found MIC₉₀ values of 0.06 mg/L against 27,052 strains of MSSA and 19,721 strains of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), compared with a vancomycin MIC₉₀ of 1 mg/L [5]. Other subsequent studies that included both MSSA and MRSA strains found the same dalbavancin MIC₅₀ and MIC₉₀ values of 0.06 mg/L [6-7]. Dalbavancin also suppresses toxin production in vitro, which may help to control S. aureus infection [8].

Finally, dalbavancin has excellent penetration in synovial tissue and fluid, bone, skin [9] and blister fluid [10] which implies high local concentrations that could facilitate the control and eradication of the infection.

In summary, dalbavancin could be a very effective alternative in cases of skin and soft tissue infections caused by MSSA refractory to β-lactam treatment.

FUNDING

None to declare

CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

JAO has attended congresses supported by Angelini, ASR has attended congresses supported by Angelini, JLLF has attended congresses supported by Angelini, and JFA has not conflict of interest.