Teicoplanin in the treatment of bone and joint infections. Teicoplanin Bone and Joint Cooperative Study Group, USA.

Teicoplanin is a new glycopeptide antibiotic with activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant organisms. Teicoplanin is administered once daily, either intravenously or intramuscularly. Teicoplanin was given once daily, intravenously or intramuscularly, in the treatment of hospitalized or ambulatory patients with Gram-positive bone or joint infections. A total of 90/98 patients were evaluated for efficacy; 41 had acute osteomyelitis, 41 had chronic osteomyelitis, and 8 had septic arthritis. At the end of therapy, 37 acute osteomyelitis patients were cured/improved with a 90% cure rate at 6-month follow-up; 2 relapsed and 1 failed. At the end of therapy 30 chronic osteomyelitis patients were cured/improved with an 88% cure rate at 6-month follow-up; 2 relapsed and 1 failed. 100% of the septic arthritis patients were cured at the end of therapy and at 1-month follow-up. The most common bacterial isolates cultured from bone were S. aureus (39 isolates), S. epidermidis (11 isolates), other coagulase-negative staphylococci (20 isolates), enterococci (6 isolates), and other streptococcal species (20 isolates). The most common bacterial isolates cultured from joint fluid were S. aureus (6 isolates) and S. epidermidis (2 isolates). All patients tolerated the intramuscular or intravenous routes of administration well. Adverse reactions were mild and most cases did not require discontinuation of therapy. The majority of therapy was administered on an outpatient basis. Teicoplanin was safe, effective, convenient and relatively well tolerated in patients with acute or chronic osteomyelitis or septic arthritis.