Tigecycline - A Novel Expanded Spectrum Antibiotic for the Treatment of Serious Infections 181-184
Correspondence
Dr. Jimmy B,Department of Pharmacy Practice,Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India 576 104
Ph. 91-820-2922403 Fax 91-820-2571998
E-mail : binageorge1@yahoo.co.in
Resistance to presently available antibiotics is increasing at an alarming rate, and the same proves to be a major hurdle in the treatment of infections, especially serious infections, where organisms with a wide range of antibacterial resistance are frequently present. The drug discovery sector is concentrating on developing antibiotics with a broader antibiotic coverage to overcome the existing resistance mechanisms displayed by organisms. Tigecycline is a member of a new class of antibiotics named glycylcyclines. This is an antibiotic class related to tetracyclines and has the above mentioned properties. This new drug has been shown to confer broad antibiotic coverage and prove effective against many species of multidrug-resistant organisms. The drug was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections and complicated intra-abdominal infections in June 2005. Tigecycline has been efficacious and well tolerated in clinical studies. The drug is not currently available in India. It will be a welcome addition to the current armamentarium for the treatment of serious infections.