Glycopeptide-resistant Enterococcus faecium infections in paediatric liver transplant recipients: safety and clinical efficacy of quinupristin/dalfopristin.

Author(s): Verma A, Dhawan A, Philpott-Howard J, Rela M, Heaton N, Vergani GM, Wade J

Affiliation(s): Dulwich Public Health Laboratory & Medical Microbiology, King's College Hospital, London, SE5 9RS, UK.

Publication date & source: 2001-01, J Antimicrob Chemother., 47(1):105-8.

We describe our experience of quinupristin/dalfopristin for glycopeptide-resistant Enterococcus faecium (GREF) infections in 19 paediatric liver transplant recipients. The median patient age was 2 years and all were receiving immunosuppressive regimens. Quinupristin/dalfopristin was well tolerated and complete resolution of infection was seen in 74% of patients. Side-effects included reversible elevation of serum alkaline phosphatase, skin rash, itching, diarrhoea and vomiting, but therapy was not withdrawn from any patient. Quinupristin/dalfopristin appears safe and efficacious in critically ill immunocompromised children with renal or hepatic impairment.