Metabolic Effects of the Steroid Antibiotic Fusidic Acid

Abstract

Fucidin, the sodium salt of fusidic acid, is a steroid antibiotic related to helvolic acid and cephalosporin PrIt was isolated from the fermentation products of the fungus, Fusidium coccineum. It has a high antibiotic activity against the staphylococcus and has proved itself to be a useful therapeutic substance in man. Its unique structure as an antibiotic prompted an investigation into its metabolic effects when given in therapeutic doses. It has been shown to have a mild protein catabolic effect, and to lower urinary calcium excretion. It causes mild temporary impairment of bromsulphthalein excretion by the liver. Fucidin had no noticeable effect upon external sodium and potassium balance, external calcium balance, liver function (except the bromsulphthalein tesc), carbo-hydrate metabolism, or the pituitary adrenal axis. Prolonged administration of Fucidin did not produce any significant derangement of metabolic balance in the cases studied. © 1965, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.