Oritavancin is an glycopeptide antibiotic with bactericidal activity effective in treating infections caused by Gram-positive organisms. It treats complicated skin and skin structure infections. This drug demonstrates similar activity to vancomycin, but it has stronger activity against Staphylococcus and Enterococcus. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of oritavancin appear to be favourable and once-daily dosing is likely. The incidence of multi-drug resistant bacteria is increasing and explorations into additional treatment options are essential. Oritavancin is marketed under the brand name Orbactiv. Orbactiv is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections caused or suspected to be caused by susceptible isolates of designated Gram-positive microorganisms. Oritavancin has the following mechanism of action: 1) Inhibition of the transglycosylation (polymerisation) step of cell wall biosynthesis by binding to the stem peptide of peptidoglycan precursors 2) Inhibition of the transpeptidation (crosslinking) step of cell wall biosynthesis by binding to the peptide bridging segments of the cell wall 3) Disruption of bacterial membrane integrity, leading to depolarisation, increased permeability and rapid cell death.

TELAVANCIN (VIBATIV®) is a lipoglycopeptide antibacterial that is a synthetic derivative of vancomycin. It exerts concentration-dependent, bactericidal activity against Gram-positive organisms in vitro. TELAVANCIN (VIBATIV®) inhibits cell wall biosynthesis by binding to late-stage peptidoglycan precursors, including lipid II. It also binds to the bacterial membrane and disrupts membrane barrier function. TELAVANCIN (VIBATIV®) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections caused by susceptible isolates of the following Gram-positive microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus (including methicillin-susceptible and -resistant isolates), Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus anginosus group (includes S. anginosus, S. intermedius, and S. constellatus), or Enterococcus faecalis (vancomycin-susceptible isolates only). It is also indicated for the treatment of adult patients with hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP), caused by susceptible isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (both methicillin-susceptible and -resistant isolates). It should be reserved for use when alternative treatments are not suitable.