Bruce M. Jones, PharmD, BCPS, discusses dalbavancin as an option for treating ABSSSI and the importance of patient education when using this agent.
Segment Description: Bruce M. Jones, PharmD, BCPS, infectious disease clinical pharmacy specialist and associate professor at St. Josephs/Candler Health System, discusses dalbavancin as an option for treating ABSSSI and the importance of patient education when using this agent.
Interview Transcript (modified slightly for readability):
“I think dalbavancin is a great option out there. The way I look at it is being able to give a full course of therapy in a 30-minute intravenous (IV) infusion is great, especially for certain patient populations. You’re able to avoid a central line—a PICC—and many times, you don’t have to do therapeutic drug monitoring associated with vancomycin. Vancomycin being a weight-based dosing option, it’s very hard to do outpatient logistically.
You don’t have the interaction with any of the coagulation tasks out there; you don’t have drug-drug interactions. Being able to give 1 dose and fully treat a patient, it also takes compliance and adherence out of the picture as well.
I think the biggest con to this drug is making sure that you educate patients and you give proper follow-up to them. Outside of that, in terms of treating, I have seen great results personally with this agent.”
