What is the antimicrobial coverage of Tygacil (Tigecycline)?

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Last updated: February 9, 2025View editorial policy

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From the Guidelines

Tigecycline has broad-spectrum antimicrobial coverage against many gram-positive, gram-negative, and anaerobic organisms.

Key Coverage

  • Gram-positive organisms: including MRSA and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) 1
  • Gram-negative organisms: including some ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter species, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, but not P. aeruginosa 1
  • Anaerobic organisms: making it a viable option for complicated intra-abdominal infections (IAIs) 1

Important Limitations

  • Lack of activity against P. aeruginosa and some other non-fermenting gram-negative bacteria 1
  • Low serum levels: making it less suitable for treating bacteremia or infections where high serum concentrations are required 1

Clinical Use

  • Complicated intra-abdominal infections: tigecycline is a viable treatment option due to its favorable in vitro activity against anaerobic organisms and certain gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria 1
  • Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infections: tigecycline is recommended for treating intra-abdominal infections caused by VRE, but not for VRE bacteremia due to its low serum levels 1

From the FDA Drug Label

Tigecycline has been shown to be active against most of the following microorganisms, both in vitro and in clinical infections [see Indications and Usage (1)]. Gram-positive bacteria Enterococcus faecalis (vancomycin-susceptible isolates) Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-susceptible and -resistant isolates) Streptococcus agalactiae Streptococcus anginosus group (includes S anginosus, S. intermedius, and S constellatus) Streptococcus pneumoniae (penicillin-susceptible isolates) Streptococcus pyogenes Gram-negative bacteria Citrobacter freundii Enterobacter cloacae Escherichia coli Haemophilus influenzae Klebsiella oxytoca Klebsiella pneumoniae Legionella pneumophila Anaerobic bacteria Bacteroides fragilis Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron Bacteroides uniformis Bacteroides vulgatus Clostridium perfringens Peptostreptococcus micros

The antimicrobial coverage of Tygacil (Tigecycline) includes:

  • Gram-positive bacteria:
    • Enterococcus faecalis (vancomycin-susceptible isolates)
    • Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-susceptible and -resistant isolates)
    • Streptococcus agalactiae
    • Streptococcus anginosus group
    • Streptococcus pneumoniae (penicillin-susceptible isolates)
    • Streptococcus pyogenes
  • Gram-negative bacteria:
    • Citrobacter freundii
    • Enterobacter cloacae
    • Escherichia coli
    • Haemophilus influenzae
    • Klebsiella oxytoca
    • Klebsiella pneumoniae
    • Legionella pneumophila
  • Anaerobic bacteria:
    • Bacteroides fragilis
    • Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron
    • Bacteroides uniformis
    • Bacteroides vulgatus
    • Clostridium perfringens
    • Peptostreptococcus micros 2

From the Research

Antimicrobial Coverage of Tygacil (Tigecycline)

The antimicrobial coverage of Tygacil (Tigecycline) includes:

  • A wide range of multidrug-resistant nosocomial pathogens 3
  • Gram-positive pathogens, including resistant isolates such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant enterococci 4, 5, 6
  • Gram-negative pathogens, including extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing organisms, but not Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus species 4, 5, 6
  • Anaerobic pathogens, including Bacteroides spp. 5, 7
  • Atypical bacterial species, including Coxiella spp. and Rickettsia spp. 3
  • Multidrug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains 3

Exceptions to Antimicrobial Coverage

Exceptions to the antimicrobial coverage of Tygacil (Tigecycline) include:

  • Intrinsic resistance in some Gram-negative pathogens 3
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus species, which have elevated minimum inhibitory concentrations 4, 5, 6

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Research

Tigecycline antibacterial activity, clinical effectiveness, and mechanisms and epidemiology of resistance: narrative review.

European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology, 2022

Research

Tigecycline: a new glycylcycline antimicrobial agent.

American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 2006

Research

Tigecycline: a glycylcycline antimicrobial agent.

Clinical therapeutics, 2006

Research

Tigecycline: a new glycylcycline antimicrobial.

International journal of clinical practice, 2006

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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