There have been rare but potentially serious reports of eosinophilic pneumonia associated with Daptomycin ( Cubicin ). If eosinophilic pneumonia is suspected, Daptomycin should be discontinued immediately and if appropriate the patient treated with corticosteroids.
Daptomycin should not be readministered to patients who have experienced eosinophilic pneumonia with this drug.

Daptomycin ( Cubicin ) is indicated for the treatment of complicated skin and soft-tissue infections; right-sided infective endocarditis due to Staphylococcus aureus; and Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia when associated with right-sided infective endocarditis or with complicated skin and soft-tissue infections.

Risk of eosinophilic pneumonia

Since Daptomycin was licensed in 2006, there have been case reports globally of eosinophilic pneumonia and pulmonary eosinophilia associated with its use. Although the exact incidence of eosinophilic pneumonia associated with Daptomycin is unknown, to date the reporting rate is very low ( less than 1/10 000 ). In severe cases, hypoxic respiratory insufficiency requiring mechanical ventilation may occur, making prompt recognition of the clinical syndrome critical.

Clinical presentation

The most common symptoms of eosinophilic pneumonia include cough, fever, and dyspnoea. Diagnostic findings include increased eosinophils in the lung tissue or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, along with diffuse infiltrates on chest radiographs. Although clinical suspicion should be raised if there is an elevated peripheral eosinophil count in the setting of pulmonary infiltrates, there have been cases of eosinophilic pneumonia with normal peripheral eosinophil counts.

Advice for healthcare professionals

• The most common symptoms of eosinophilic pneumonia include cough, fever, and dyspnoea. Most cases have occurred after 2 weeks of treatment;

• Healthcare professionals should react promptly to signs of eosinophilic pneumonia with Daptomycin treatment. Daptomycin should be discontinued immediately and the patient treated with corticosteroids if appropriate;

• Daptomycin should not be readministered to patients who have experienced eosinophilic pneumonia with this drug;

Source: Drug Safety Update – MHRA, 2011

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