Poor efficacy of teicoplanin in treatment of deep-seated staphylococcal infections.

Teicoplanin in a 400 mg intravenous loading dose followed by 200 mg/day intravenously or intramuscularly was given to 19 patients with deep-seated staphylococcal infections. Only eight patients (44.4%) were considered cured, failure mostly being observed in patients with osteomyelitis, endocarditis and bacteremia. Poor tissue kinetics of teicoplanin and the presence of foreign bodies are probable explanations for the reported failures. Future trials using a higher dose of teicoplanin with or without the addition of rifampicin or gentamicin seem to be justified.