NAPLEX Practice Question # 20
NAPLEX Examination:
Daily Practice question # 20.
Naplex
Tigecycline (Tygacil). Naplex Review
An intravenous glycylcycline antibiotic developed as a semisynthetic analogue of tetracycline with a broad spectrum of activity.
- Mechanism of action. Tigecycline is bacteriostatic; it inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by reversibly binding to the 30S ribosome subunit.
- Spectrum of activity. Th e drug is active against vancomycin-susceptible E. faecalis, methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis, and S. aureus (methicillin-susceptible and –resistant strains) as well as some gram-negative aerobes and anaerobes.
- Th erapeutic uses. Tigecycline is indicated for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections caused by E. coli, vancomycin-susceptible E. faecalis, S. aureus (methicillinsusceptible strains only) and B. fragilis. Also indicated for the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections caused by E. faecalis (vancomycin-susceptible strains), S. pyogenes and S. aureus (methicillin-susceptible and -resistant strains).
Precautions and monitoring effects
- Safety data are limited. Side eff ects are generally mild with GI disturbances—for example, nausea (22% to 35%) and vomiting (13% to 19%)—the most commonly reported. Th e mechanism of these reactions is uncertain.
- May cause permanent discoloration of the teeth similar to the tetracyclines.
- Caution in patients with a history of hypersensitivity reactions to tetracyclines.
- Phototoxic reactions, pancreatitis, and increases in BUN may occur.