Flucloxacillin

Penicillinase-resistant betalactam antibiotic specially developed for the treatment of betalactamase-forming staphylococci. Flucloxacillin is therefore also referred to as "staphylococcal penicillin".

Flucloxacillin belongs to the group of isoxazolyl antibiotics, which also includes cloxacillin, dicloxacillin and oxacillin.

Infections with beta-lactamase-forming staphylococci (e.g. Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis), but also Streptococcus pyogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Neisseria species, Bacillus anthracis (anthrax), Bacillus subtilis, Clostridia and Listeria monocytogenes are indicated.

Most enterococci are resistant to flucloxacillin.

Infections with flucloxacillin-sensitive germs (especially penicillinase-forming staphylococci) in infections of the skin, mucous membranes and soft tissue ( boils, abscesses, pyoderma, panaritium, paronychia, mastitis), infections of the respiratory tract, infections of the bones and bone marrow

Flucloxacillin also causes "non-antibiotic" immunological effects. For example, it has been successful in individual cases of dermatitis herpetiformis.

• Adults: 3-4 times/day 1-2 g p.o., i.v. or i.m.
• Children 10-14 years: 3-4 times/day 0,5 g.
• Children 6-10 years: 3 times/day 0,25-0,4 g.
• Children < 6 years: 40-50 mg/kg bw/day divided into 3 doses, max. 100 mg/kg bw/day.

Occasionally erythema nodosum, pruritus, urticaria, among others.

Rare gastrointestinal side effects (nausea, vomiting), hypernatremia, hypermagnesemia.

Furthermore, in rare cases flucloxacillin induces immune thrombocytopenia.

Staphylex®

1. Jatzlauk G et al (2016) Flucloxacillin-induced immune thrombocytopenia. Transfusion 56:67-72.