Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (2003) 51, iii31-iii35
© 2003 The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
Supplement |
Ramoplanin: a novel antimicrobial agent with the potential to prevent vancomycin-resistant enterococcal infection in high-risk patients
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Munger Pavilion 245, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA
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 8090% 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.
Footnotes
* Tel: +1-914-493-1289; Fax: +1-914-594-3477; E-mail: marisa_montecalvo{at}nymc.edu