Telavancin in the treatment of invasive Gram-positive infections

Telavancin is a newer once-daily lipoglycopeptide with activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including those that are resistant to conventional antibiotics like beta-lactams. The results of recent clinical trials led to registration of telavancin for use in skin and skin structure infections in the US and Canada and for nosocomial pneumonia in Europe, based primarily on the favorable results of clinical trials. We review the evidence for use of telavancin in Gram-positive intravascular infections, focusing on bacteremic subpopulations in the large clinical trials as well as anecdotal evidence for use of the drug in the setting of infective endocarditis.