daptomycin at a glance
Medicine class
Cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic
Activity
Kills susceptible Gram-positive bacteria; it does not cover Gram-negative bacteria
Administration
Given intravenously as an injection or infusion after preparation
Key monitoring
Muscle symptoms, creatine phosphokinase and kidney function
What is daptomycin used for?
Selected UK products are licensed for specific infections caused by susceptible bacteria.
Complicated skin and soft-tissue infections in adults and children aged 1 to 17 years.
Right-sided infective endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus aureus in adults, with specialist input and susceptibility considered.
Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection associated with right-sided infective endocarditis or complicated skin and soft-tissue infection in adults, or with complicated skin and soft-tissue infection in children.
Additional antibacterial cover is needed if Gram-negative or relevant anaerobic organisms are suspected.
How does daptomycin work?
In the presence of calcium, daptomycin binds to susceptible bacterial cell membranes and disrupts their electrical balance. This stops essential protein and genetic-material production, killing the bacteria.
daptomycin preparations and strengths
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 350 mg, 500 mg
How to take daptomycin
Daptomycin is not taken by mouth. A healthcare professional prepares the powder with sodium chloride solution and gives it into a vein. Selected adult products permit injection or infusion, while children receive an infusion. Home administration should occur only after training and assessment by the responsible service.
Follow the hospital or outpatient intravenous-antibiotic team’s instructions.
Do not shake a vial during preparation because this can cause foaming.
Check the prepared solution for particles or an unexpected appearance before use.
daptomycin side effects
Common or expected effects
- Headache or dizziness
- Nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, constipation or diarrhoea
- Rash or itching
- Pain in a limb
- Infusion-site reaction, fever or weakness
- Raised creatine phosphokinase or abnormal liver blood tests
Get urgent medical advice
- Allergic reaction, including facial or throat swelling, wheezing or collapse
- New fever, cough or breathlessness suggesting eosinophilic pneumonia
- Unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, cramps or weakness
- Blistering, peeling or widespread rash, mouth sores, facial swelling or fever
- Persistent severe diarrhoea
- New numbness, tingling or weakness
- Fever or rash with new or worsening kidney impairment
daptomycin in pregnancy
Human pregnancy evidence is limited, although published case reports have not identified maternal or neonatal harm. UK product information advises use only when clearly necessary after specialist assessment of the expected benefit and possible risk.
daptomycin while breastfeeding
Measured milk levels have been very low, but evidence is limited. Selected UK product information advises stopping breastfeeding during treatment, so seek an individual assessment from the infection and maternity teams and a breastfeeding-medicines specialist.
daptomycin interactions
Tell the treating team about all prescribed, non-prescription and herbal products. Important examples include:
Statins, fibrates, ciclosporin and other medicines associated with myopathy
The combination may increase muscle injury risk; temporary interruption or closer symptom and creatine phosphokinase monitoring may be considered.
NSAIDs, COX-2 inhibitors and other medicines that reduce kidney filtration
They may increase daptomycin exposure or add to kidney effects, requiring caution and renal monitoring.
Warfarin
Anticoagulant activity should be monitored when daptomycin is started. Daptomycin can also falsely raise some laboratory INR results.
Common questions about daptomycin
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is daptomycin a penicillin antibiotic?
No. It is a cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic and is structurally unrelated to penicillins.
Does daptomycin treat MRSA?
It can kill susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, including some MRSA strains. Treatment depends on the infection site, culture results and specialist assessment.
Why is daptomycin not used for pneumonia?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.