New drug
Retapamulin for skin infections
- Aust Prescr 2015;38:33-4
- 1 February 2015
- DOI: 10.18773/austprescr.2015.013
ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY
First published 6 November 2014
Approved indication: skin infections
Altargo (GlaxoSmithKline)
tubes containing 1% ointment
Australian Medicines Handbook section 8.4.3
Retapamulin is a topical pleuromutilin antibiotic. It is indicated for impetigo and mild secondary skin infections arising from lacerations, abrasions, sutured wounds, psoriasis or dermatitis. These infections are mainly caused by Staphylococcus aureus, but can also be due to Streptococcus pyogenes.
In vitro, retapamulin is bacteriostatic against S. aureus and S. pyogenes. It is thought to act by inhibiting protein synthesis through the 50S bacterial ribosomal unit. From in vitro studies, the likelihood of S. aureus and S. pyogenes becoming resistant to retapamulin is predicted to be low.
The recommended dose is a thin layer of ointment, twice a day for five days. Systemic exposure following application to intact skin is generally very low. However, detectable concentrations were observed in 69% of babies aged 2−9 months. Retapamulin is therefore contraindicated in babies under nine months. As this drug is metabolised by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4, inhibitors of this enzyme (e.g. ketoconazole) may increase retapamulin exposure in children under two years.
Efficacy
The efficacy of retapamulin 1% ointment in patients aged nine months and older has been studied in several phase III trials (see Table).
Impetigo
There have been two comparative trials of retapamulin for impetigo – one with a placebo1 and the other with sodium fusidate ointment 2% (3 times daily for 7 days).2 The median age of the participants was 7−9 years and most of them had only one impetigo lesion. Clinical success was defined as drying up (without crusts) or resolution of the lesion, or an improvement such that no further treatment was needed. The efficacy of retapamulin was significantly better than placebo and was non-inferior to sodium fusidate (see Table).
Infected wounds
Retapamulin has also been compared to a 10-day course of oral cephalexin 500 mg (twice a day) in people with secondarily infected wounds caused by trauma.3 Two identical trials enrolled participants who had wounds less than 10 cm long with no more than 2 cm of surrounding erythema. Response to treatment was scored using a skin infection rating scale which assessed exudates, crusting, inflammation, tissue warmth, oedema, itching and pain. The efficacy of retapamulin appeared to be non-inferior to oral cephalexin, with most patients requiring no further treatment at the end of the study period (see Table).
In another trial, retapamulin did not reach statistically significant superiority over placebo for people with secondarily infected wounds. This was presumably because clinical success rates were quite high in the placebo arm (see Table).4
Infected dermatoses
A single trial investigated retapamulin for secondary infections arising from psoriasis or dermatitis (atopic or allergic). The ointment was found to have comparable efficacy to oral cephalexin 500 mg twice a day for 10 days (see Table).5
MRSA infections
Evidence that retapamulin is effective against infections caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is limited. In one of the studies of secondarily infected wounds, clinical success rates were lower for MRSA infections than for methicillin-sensitive S. aureus infections – 68.6% (35/51) versus 92.2% (330/358).3
In an unpublished study of people with impetigo or secondarily infected wounds caused by MRSA, clinical success rates were significantly lower with retapamulin than with oral linezolid (63.9% vs 90.6%).
Safety and precautions
Application site reactions were the most frequently reported adverse events with retapamulin and included irritation, pruritus, paraesthesia and pain. In most of the trials, these were reported by less than 2% of people.1-5 In comparative trials with oral cephalexin, diarrhoea was less common with retapamulin than with oral cephalexin (1.6% vs 2.7%).3,5
Retapamulin should not be used to treat abscesses or cellulitis and should not be applied to mucosal membranes or eyes. When prescribing antibiotics for skin infections, geographical variations in antibiotic susceptibility should be considered. If a patient is not responding to retapamulin, they may need to be switched to the appropriate systemic therapy.
Conclusion
Retapamulin ointment is better than placebo for impetigo, however, it has not been compared to mupirocin ointment. Retapamulin may be a preferable alternative to oral antibiotic therapy for mild secondary skin infections. Clinical evidence does not support the use of this drug for MRSA infections.
manufacturer provided the AusPAR/and or the product information
The Transparency Score () is explained in New drugs: transparency', Vol 37 No 1, Aust Prescr 2014;37:27.
Notes on references
At the time the comment was prepared, information about this drug was available on the web site of the Food and Drug Administration in the USA (www.fda.gov).
At the time the comment was prepared, a scientific discussion about this drug was available on the website of the European Medicines Agency (www.emea.europa.eu).
At the time the comment was prepared, information about this drug was available on the website of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (www.tga.gov.au/industry/pm-auspar.htm).
References
- Koning S, van der Wouden JC, Chosidow O, Twynholm M, Singh KP, Scangarella N, et al. Efficacy and safety of retapamulin ointment as treatment of impetigo: randomized double-blind multicentre placebo-controlled trial. Br J Dermatol 2008;158:1077-82.
- Oranje AP, Chosidow O, Sacchidanand S, Todd G, Singh K, Scangarella N, et al. Topical retapamulin ointment, 1%, versus sodium fusidate ointment, 2%, for impetigo: a randomized, observer-blinded, noninferiority study. Dermatology 2007:215:331-40.
- Free A, Roth E, Dalessandro M, Hiram J, Scangarella N, Shawar R, et al. Retapamulin ointment twice daily for 5 days vs oral cephalexin twice daily for 10 days for empiric treatment of secondarily infected traumatic lesions of the skin. Skinmed 2006;5:224-32.
- Tomayko JF, Li G, Breton JJ, Scangarella-Oman N, Dalessandro M, Martin M. The safety and efficacy of topical retapamulin ointment versus placebo ointment in the treatment of secondarily infected traumatic lesions: a randomized, double-blind superiority study. Adv Skin Wound Care 2013;26:113-21.
- Parish LC, Jorizzo JL, Breton JJ, Hirman JW, Scangarella NE, Shawar RM, et al. Topical retapamulin ointment (1%, wt/wt) twice daily for 5 days versus oral cephalexin twice daily for 10 days in the treatment of secondarily infected dermatitis: results of a randomized controlled trial. J Am Acad Dermatol 2006; 55:1003-13.
Some of the views expressed in the following notes on newly approved products should be regarded as preliminary, as there may have been limited published data at the time of publication, and little experience in Australia of their safety or efficacy. However, the Editorial Executive Committee believes that comments made in good faith at an early stage may still be of value. Before new drugs are prescribed, the Committee believes it is important that more detailed information is obtained from the manufacturer's approved product information, a drug information centre or some other appropriate source.
