The University of Toledo Translation Journal of Medical Sciences 
Hospital Medicine Abstract, Department of Medicine Research Symposium UTJMS 2023 May 5; 11(1):e1-e1 

Daptomycin Associated Rhabdomyolysis 
with Concurrent Use of Atorvastatin 

Abdulaziz Aldhafeeri, MD1*, Abdulmajeed Alharbi, MD1, Caleb Spencer, MD1, 
Bopp Benjamin, MD1, Kirubel Zerihun, MD1, Amna Al-Tkrit MD1 

1Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, The University of Toledo, 
Toledo, OH 43614 

*Corresponding author: Abdulaziz.Aldhafeeri@utoledo.edu

Published: 05 May 2023 

Introduction: Daptomycin is the only lipopeptide drug approved for clinical use. Daptomycin also 
associated with increase level of creatinine kinase.  

Case Report: 74-years-old Caucasian female with body mass index of 41.16 kg/m2 and past medical 
history of hyperlipidemia on atorvastatin instructed by the infectious disease clinic to go to the 
emergency room due elevated kidney function and liver enzymes. One month prior to her presentation, 
patient was admitted to the hospital after she was found to have right multi-lobule psoas abscess and 
iliacus muscle abscess. At that time, she was started on intravenous (IV) Vancomycin 1000 mg daily. In 
the 17th day follow up with infectious disease clinic, she was found to have acute kidney injury 
secondary to IV vancomycin with increase of creatinine at 1.89 mg/dL. IV vancomycin discontinued 
then she was started on daptomycin infusion of 3690 mg daily. Fourteen days after initiating daptomycin 
infusion, blood work up show worsen creatinine level at 2.18 mg/dL. Further blood work up revealed 
elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) at 1200 U/L, elevated alanine aminotransferase at 325 U/L, 
elevated creatinine kinase (CK) total at 38,390 U/L and elevated myoglobin at 28,663 ng/mL. Patient 
diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis secondary to daptomycin, Naranjo score is 6. Daptomycin and 
atorvastatin were discontinued, and normal saline infusion started with rate of 200 mL/hr. Patient total 
stay of admission was 5 days and blood work up show marked improvement.   

Conclusion: Daptomycin associated rhabdomyolysis is a rare and concerning side effect that require 
prompt discontinuation of the antibiotic. 

https://dx.doi.org/10.46570/utjms.vol11-2023-743 

https://dx.doi.org/10.46570/utjms.vol11-2023-743
mailto:Abdulaziz.Aldhafeeri@utoledo.edu