Synercid

quinupristin and dalfopristin

Synercid

Pharmacologic class: Streptogramin

Therapeutic class: Anti-infective

Pregnancy risk category B

Action

Synergistic effects of drug combination interfere with bacterial cell-wall synthesis by disrupting DNA and RNA transcription

Availability

Injection: 500 mg/10 ml (150 mg quinupristin, 350 mg dalfopristin), 600 mg/10 ml (180 mg quinupristin, 420 mg dalfopristin)

Indications and dosages

➣ Serious or life-threatening infections caused by vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium

Adults and adolescents ages 16 and older: 7.5 mg/kg by I.V. infusion over 1 hour q 8 hours

➣ Complicated skin and skin-structure infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-susceptible) or Streptococcus pyogenes

Adults and adolescents ages 16 and older: 7.5 mg/kg by I.V. infusion over 1 hour q 12 hours for at least 7 days

Dosage adjustment

• Hepatic impairment

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to drug or other streptogramins

Precautions

Use cautiously in:

• hepatic impairment

• breastfeeding patients

• children younger than age 16 (safety and efficacy not established).

Administration

Don't mix with other drugs or saline solution.

• For intermittent infusion through a common I.V. line, flush line with dextrose 5% in water (D₅W) before and after giving drug.

• Add 5 ml of sterile water or D₅W to powdered drug in vial, and swirl gently by hand until powder dissolves; don't shake vial. Solution should be clear.

• Within 30 minutes of first dilution, draw up prescribed dosage and dilute further in D₅W to a final concentration of 2 mg/ml or less.

• Know that if patient has a central venous catheter and is fluid-restricted, drug may be given in 100 ml of D₅W.

• Administer by infusion pump over 60 minutes.

• If significant peripheral vein irritation occurs, dilute in 500 to 750 ml of D₅W.

• Be aware that duration of therapy depends on infection site and severity.

Adverse reactions

CNS: headache

CV: thrombophlebitis

GI: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

Musculoskeletal: joint pain, myalgia

Skin: rash, pruritus

Other: inflammation, pain, or edema at infusion site

Interactions

Drug-drug. Drugs metabolized by CYP450-3A4 (antiretrovirals; antineoplastics, such as vinca alkaloids, docetaxel, and paclitaxel; astemizole; benzodiazepines; calcium channel blockers; carbamazepine; cisapride; corticosteroids; disopyramide; HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors; immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine and tacrolimus; lidocaine; quinidine; terfenadine): increased therapeutic and adverse effects of these drugs

Drug-diagnostic tests. Alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin: increased levels

Patient monitoring

• Monitor closely for infusion site reactions and thrombophlebitis. If these problems occur, consider increasing infusion volume, changing infusion site, or infusing through peripherally inserted central catheter or central venous catheter.

• Assess weight and fluid intake and output to help detect edema.

• Monitor bilirubin level.

Patient teaching

Instruct patient to immediately report pain or redness at infusion site.

• Tell patient to report muscle aches and pains.

• As appropriate, review all other significant and life-threatening adverse reactions and interactions, especially those related to the drugs and tests mentioned above.

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McGraw-Hill Nurse's Drug Handbook, 7th Ed. Copyright © 2013 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved

Synercid®

Quinupristin/dalfopristin Therapeutics An antibiotic effective against gram-positive multiresistant organism–eg, vancomycin-resistant and multiresistant Enterococcus faecium–VREF, nosocomial pneumonia, MRSA, methicillin-resistant S epidermidis–MRSE. See Antibiotic resistance, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.