Sketchy Pharm: Daptomycin

Question 1

Against which bacteria is daptomycin effective?

Answer 1

Gram-positive bacteria

Think of the police DePT. approaching the crowd wearing purple shirts.

Question 2

Daptomycin targets the ________________.

Answer 2

cell wall (like the police DePT approaching the WALL of protesters)

Question 3

What is the specific mechanism of daptomycin?

Answer 3

It inserts a lipophilic chain into the Gram-positive wall and thus depolarizes the cell.

(Think of the police DePT. tasing –depolarizing –the protesters.)

Question 4

Daptomycin can be used on ____________-resistant organisms.

Answer 4

vancomycin (like the protester being tased into the van.)

Question 5

Name some specific organisms that daptomycin is used to treat.

Answer 5

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (represented by the drummer in front of the protesters) and MRSA bacteremia (like the defaced Pharaoh’s Chicken mascot above the motto “It’s in our blood”)

Question 6

Daptomycin should not be used to treat _________________.

Answer 6

pulmonary infections (because surfactant chemically negates daptomycin)

(Think of the protester wearing the tazer-resistant chest plate.)

Question 7

What is the main side effect of daptomycin?

Answer 7

Myopathy (like the police officer taking a bite out of the chicken leg)