Optimal drug therapy for Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia in adults

Purpose of review Staphylococcus aureus is a significant human pathogen, causing a variety of infections, from skin and soft tissue infections to endocarditis, bone and joint infections and deep tissue abscesses. Mortality from S. aureus bacteraemia remains high, without major therapeutic advances in recent decades. Recent findings In recent years, optimized dosing of antibiotics is increasingly being recognized as a cornerstone of management for severe infections including S. aureus bacteraemia. This comprehensive review details the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) targets for commonly used antistaphylococcal antibiotics and the doses predicted to achieve them in clinical practice. Recent advances in dosing of teicoplanin and use of cefazolin in CNS infections and findings from combination therapy studies are discussed. Drug exposure relationships related to toxicity are also detailed. Summary This review details the different PK/PD targets for drugs used to treat S. aureus bacteraemia and how to apply them in various scenarios. The drug doses that achieve them, and the risks of toxicity are also provided.