Evaluation of analogs of reutericyclin as prospective candidates for treatment of staphylococcal skin infections.

The potential for reutericyclin derivatives to be used as topical antibiotics to treat staphylococcal skin infections was investigated. All reutericyclins inhibited the growth of clinical isolates of drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Unlike the standard topical agent mupirocin, most reutericyclin derivatives eradicated staphylococcal biofilms. Moreover, two compounds formulated in hydrophilic petrolatum (10%, wt/wt) were efficacious in treating S. aureus superficial skin infections in mice. These data exemplify the prospect of developing reutericyclins as new topical antibiotics.