Fusidic production

As a group, the protein biosynthesis inhibitors comprise the second largest class of antibiotics available for clinical use. Natural product classes of antibiotics that inhibit the protein biosynthesis are aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, macrolides, lincosamides, fusidic acid, streptogramins and mupirocin (Fig. 7). 

Fusidic acid is a product of, among others, the fungus Fusidium coccineum. It has a steroidal structure and has mainly bacteriostatic activity. Its mechanism of action is based on inhibition of bacterial protein synthesis. Its indications are limited to the treatment of severe staphylococcal infections, usually in combination with another antistaphylococcal agent to prevent the emergence of resistance. 

The 9/3-configuration has been established " for the fusidic acid degradation product (312). Pimarene (313) was converted through the diazoketone (314) into the mixture of D-nor-compounds (315). Reaction of the 7a-acetoxy-5,10-epoxy-6-ketone (316) with KOH-MeOH gave the ring-B aromatic compound (317) which was subsequently converted into 6,7-diacetoxyequilenin (318). ... 

Povidone iodine 10%, chlorhexidine 0.5%w/w, sodium fusidate 2%w/w, and 1% framycetin sulfate are examples of available gauze impregnations and are recommended for the reduction of wound infection. However, diffusion of fhe anfibacferial agent into or onto an infected and exuding wound has been shown to be minimal and the possibility of development of resistant strains of infective organisms has reduced the usage of these products. 

Fusidic acid is adequately absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, but has also been used topically. It has the important property of good tissue penetration, including entry into bones and joints, but does not reach the cerebrospinal fluid. Elimination of fusidic acid is primarily by non-renal mechanisms, and a proportion is metabolized to several breakdown products detectable in bile. Systemic clearance is increased by hypoalbuminemia, reduced by severe cholestasis, and is unchanged in renal insufficiency (3). 

Fusidic acid may have an immunomodulatory effect that seems to be partly mediated by suppression of cytokine production. The effect on several diseases has been investigated, but it remains to be characterized more in detail whether there is any therapeutic usefulness (4). 

Fusidic acid is a steroid-like microhial product that is an extremely potent antihiotic with a hroad spectrum of biological activity. Its molecular shape is most unusual and has supplied important clues to researchers investigating the methods by which steroids are synthesized in nature. 

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