dalbavancin hydrochloride at a glance
Medicine class
Bactericidal lipoglycopeptide antibiotic.
Licensed use
Acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infections in adults and children from birth.
Administration
Given by intravenous infusion by a doctor or nurse after reconstitution and dilution.
Antibacterial spectrum
Targets susceptible Gram-positive bacteria; Gram-negative bacteria are inherently resistant.
What is dalbavancin hydrochloride used for?
UK-licensed and specialist non-licensed uses include:
Licensed: acute bacterial skin and skin-structure infections, including cellulitis, erysipelas, abscesses and wound infections caused by susceptible organisms.
Non-licensed: specialist infection services sometimes use dalbavancin for selected bone and joint infections, endocarditis or other infections on microbiology advice. Suitability and evidence vary, so specialist oversight is required.
How does dalbavancin hydrochloride work?
Dalbavancin binds to building blocks used by susceptible Gram-positive bacteria to make their protective cell wall. This prevents proper wall assembly and cross-linking, causing bacterial death. It remains in the body for a prolonged period.
dalbavancin hydrochloride preparations and strengths
Solution for infusion
Route: Intravenous
Strengths: 500 mg
How to take dalbavancin hydrochloride
Dalbavancin is not taken by mouth. A doctor or nurse gives the prepared solution through a cannula or other intravenous line. Food does not affect administration.
Trained staff must reconstitute and dilute the powder before infusion.
Tell the nurse immediately if flushing, itching, hives or a rash develops during administration.
Keep appointments for clinical review and requested blood tests.
Tell other healthcare professionals that you recently received dalbavancin, particularly before another antibiotic is prescribed.
dalbavancin hydrochloride side effects
Common or expected effects
- Feeling sick
- Diarrhoea
- Headache
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic or anaphylactoid reaction, including facial or throat swelling, breathing difficulty or collapse
- Severe or persistent diarrhoea with abdominal pain, blood or mucus, which may indicate antibiotic-associated colitis
- Bronchospasm or significant breathing difficulty
- New hearing changes requiring urgent assessment
dalbavancin hydrochloride in pregnancy
There are no adequate human pregnancy data, and animal studies found reproductive toxicity. Dalbavancin is not recommended during pregnancy unless a specialist considers that the expected benefit clearly outweighs the potential fetal risk. Tell the prescriber if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy or may be pregnant.
dalbavancin hydrochloride while breastfeeding
It is unknown whether dalbavancin enters human breast milk. Although oral absorption by the infant is expected to be low, effects on the infant's mouth or gut flora cannot be excluded. The prescriber and parent should decide whether breastfeeding or treatment should continue, considering the benefits to parent and child.
dalbavancin hydrochloride interactions
Formal clinical interaction studies are limited. Tell the specialist team about all prescribed, over-the-counter and complementary products.
Boosted HIV protease inhibitors, verapamil, quinidine, itraconazole, clarithromycin or ciclosporin
These transporter inhibitors might increase dalbavancin exposure; the clinical importance is uncertain.
Statins or digoxin
Increased exposure cannot be excluded because dalbavancin's effects on transport proteins are uncertain; review and monitoring may be appropriate.
Aminoglycoside antibiotics
Concurrent use may increase concern about hearing toxicity associated with the glycopeptide class; investigate hearing symptoms promptly.
Common questions about dalbavancin hydrochloride
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is dalbavancin hydrochloride the same as Xydalba?
Dalbavancin hydrochloride is the active ingredient; Xydalba is a brand containing it.
What infections is it licensed to treat in the UK?
Acute bacterial infections of the skin and tissues beneath the skin in adults and children from birth.
Is it a penicillin?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.