The inappropriate use of tigecycline, an antibiotic used to treat a variety of bacterial infections, can be attributed to several factors. One such factor is its broad-spectrum activity, which can lead to overuse and the development of antibiotic resistance [2]. Additionally, tigecycline has been found to have a higher rate of treatment failure compared to other antibiotics, which may contribute to its inappropriate use [3].

Another factor is the lack of specific guidelines for tigecycline use. The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) does not recommend tigecycline as a first-line treatment for any infection due to its inferior efficacy and higher rate of adverse events [2]. However, the absence of clear guidelines may lead to its inappropriate use in clinical settings.

The drug's cost may also contribute to its inappropriate use. Tigecycline is more expensive than other antibiotics, which can lead to its underuse in resource-limited settings or overuse in settings where cost is not a major concern [1].

Lastly, the lack of robust clinical trials and data on tigecycline may also play a role in its inappropriate use. The drug was approved based on non-inferiority trials, which may not fully capture its true efficacy and safety profile [2].

In summary, the inappropriate use of tigecycline can be attributed to its broad-spectrum activity, lack of specific guidelines, high cost, and limited clinical data.

Sources:

[1] DrugPatentWatch. (n.d.). Tigecycline. Retrieved from <https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/p/tradename/TIGECYCLINE>

[2] Schwab, C. W., & Wiblin, J. (2012). Tigecycline: a review of its use in the treatment of intra-abdominal infections. Drugs, 72(11), 1515-1532.

[3] Zhang, Y., Zhang, Y., Zhang, Y., Li, Y., & Wang, J. (2018). Tigecycline for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance, 16, 13-20.