Abstract
Many reports describing the utility of vancomycin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection have been published, while there have only been a few concerning arbekacin (ABK), an aminoglycoside developed in Japan. In the present study, the efficacy of this drug was assessed in 11 patients with MRSA infections (2 with sepsis and 9 with pneumonia) who were admitted to the Emergency Center, Showa Universtiy Fujigaoka Hospital. ABK was administered by intravenous infusion over 60 minutes at doses of 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg 1 to 4 times daily, and blood was collected at various times after administration. ABK was found to be ineffective in all patients at doses of 50 and 100 mg, but was effective against pneumonia at a dose of only 200 mg. However, ABK was effective against both pneumonia and sepsis at a dose of 400 mg. We conclude that ABK has a dose-dependent anti-MRSA effect. When the postantibiotic effect, first-exposure effect, and other factors are considered, ABK is best administered once daily rather than in small, more frequent doses. However, with the once-daily regimen, therapeutic drug monitoring is necessary to prevent adverse reactions.
