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Pristinamycin (INN), also spelt pristinamycine, is an antibiotic used primarily in the treatment of staphylococcal infections, and to a lesser extent streptococcal infections. It is a streptogramin group antibiotic, similar to virginiamycin, derived from the bacterium Streptomyces pristina spiralis. It is marketed in Europe by Sanofi-Aventis under the trade name Pyostacine.
Pristinamycin is a mixture of two components that have a synergistic antibacterial action. Pristinamycin I is a macrolide, and results in pristinamycin having a similar spectrum of action to erythromycin. Pristinamycin II is a depsipeptide.Hamilton-Miller JMT. From foreign pharmacopoeias: 'new' antibiotics from old? J Antimicrob Chemother 1991;27:702-5. PMID 1938680
Clinical use
Despite the macrolide component, it is effective against erythromycin-resistant staphylococci and strepcococci.Weber P. Streptococcus pneumoniae: absence d'emergence de resistance a la pristinamycine. Pathol Biol (Paris) 2001;49:840-5. PMID 11776696Leclercq R, et al. Activite in vitro de la pristinamycine vis-a-vis des staphylocoques isoles dans les hopitaux francais en 1999-2000. Pathol Biol (Paris) 2003;51:400-4. PMID 12948760 Importantly, it is active against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Its usefulness for severe infections, however, may be limited by the lack of an intravenous formulation owing to its poor solubility.Sweetman S, editor. Martindale: The complete drug reference. 34th ed. London: Pharmaceutical Press; 2004. ISBN 0-8536955-0-4 Nevertheless it is sometimes used as an alternative to rifampicin+fusidic acid or linezolid for the treatment of MRSA.
The lack of an intravenous formulation led to the development of the pristinamycin-derivative quinupristin/dalfopristin, which may be administered intravenously for more severe MRSA infections.
See also
References
"Pristinamycin"