Tigecycline Penetration into Skin and Soft Tissue

Abstract

Abstract

Background:

Tigecycline, a derivative of minocycline, has antibacterial activity against common pathogens associated with complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTIs), including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. At present, there is a paucity of data concerning its penetration into skin and soft tissue (SST).

Methods:

This study evaluated the penetration of tigecycline into SST in 25 patients (mean age, 52 years) with cSSTIs requiring surgical intervention. After a 100-mg loading dose, each patient received 50 mg of tigecycline infused intravenously over 1 h every 12 h. Blood samples were obtained on the day of surgery at 1 h (peak), during surgery, and 12 h (trough) after the beginning of a 50-mg infusion. A viable SST sample was harvested at the infection site. Tissue and concomitant serum concentrations were grouped into three time intervals: 2–4 h (median, 3 h), 5–7 h (median, 7 h), and 8–10 h (median, 9h), and analyzed for tissue penetration.

Results:

Tissue and blood samples were obtained one to six days (mean 2.5 days) after initiation of tigecycline treatment. The mean serum peak and trough concentrations of tigecycline were 0.56±0.25 mg/L and 0.26±0.12 mg/L, respectively. The mean tissue:serum ratios at the three study time periods were 3.8 (range 0.7–5.5), 5.2 (range 0.8–7.1), and 2.8 (range 0.8–8.8).

Conclusions:

In general, we found higher concentrations of tigecycline in SST than in the serum at the same time point.