Ticagrelor Increases Platelet-Mediated Staphylococcus aureus Killing, Resulting in Clearance of Bacteremia. (9th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ulloa, Erlinda R; Uchiyama, Satoshi; Gillespie, Robert; Nizet, Victor; Sakoulas, George
• Is Part Of: Journal of infectious diseases. Volume 224:Number 9(2021)
• Page Start: 1566
• Page End: 1569
• Publication Date: 2021-05-09
• Subjects: endovascular infections -- Staphylococcus aureus -- MSSA bacteremia -- platelets -- ticagrelor -- innate immunity; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Diseases -- Causes and theories of causation -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiab146
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1899

Abstract

Abstract: Platelets are a critical immune defense against Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections. Staphylococcus aureus α-toxin is a virulence factor that decreases platelet viability and accelerates platelet clearance. It has been shown that ticagrelor blocks α-toxin–mediated platelet injury and resulting thrombocytopenia, protecting mice in a lethal S. aureus sepsis model. We now present the use of ticagrelor as adjunctive therapy in a patient with a S. aureus endovascular infection and thrombocytopenia, associated with restoration of platelet count and bacteremia clearance. Ticagrelor enhanced platelet killing of the S. aureus bloodstream isolate from the treated patient in vitro. Abstract : In a patient with persistent methicillin-resistant S. aureus bacteremia associated with a septic aortic thrombus, adjunctive ticagrelor therapy resulted in immediate bacteremia clearance. In vitro experiments demonstrate that ticagrelor's anti-infective properties are due to boosting of platelet-mediated killing, not antibiotic synergy.