Vancomycin

Vancomycin is an antibiotic used to treat a number of bacterial infections. It is recommended intravenously as a first-line treatment for complicated skin infections, bloodstream infections, endocarditis.

Vancomycin

Vancocin; Vancoled; Vancomicina; Vancomycine

Ancomycin, Celovan, Covancin, Cp-Van, Cytovan, Forstaf, Van-CP, Vanacin-CP, Vanco-L, Vancocare, Vancocin-CP, Vancogen, Vancogram-500, Vancoled, Vancomate, Vancomycin, Vanconat, Vanconex CP, Vanconis, Vancorid CP, Vancorin, Vancoser, Vancotar, Vancotech, Vancowar-CP, Vanking, Vanlid, Vanmax, Vansafe, Vantox-CP, Vanzy, Vconat, Vlorag, Wancosan, Xplocef

(1S,2R,18R,19R,22S,25R,28R,40S)-48-{[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3-{[(2S,4S,5S,6S)-4-amino-5-hydroxy-4,6-dimethyloxan-2-yl]oxy}-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy}-22-(carbamoylmethyl)-5,47-dichloro-2,18,32,35,37-pentahydro

Poorly absorbed from the GI tract.

It is a tricyclic glycosylated non ribosomal branched peptide produced by the fermentation of the Actinobacteria species Amycolatopsis orientalis (formerly Nocardia orientalis). Vancomycin has been shown to be active against most strains of the following microorganisms, both in vitro and in clinical infections

The recommended dose is 0.5-2 g/day in 3-4 divided doses for a period of 7-10 days.

Prescribed for severe bacterial infections.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome; toxic epidermal necrolysis, blood dyscrasias such as neutropenia or thrombocytopenia. Ototoxicity, nephrotoxicity, eosinophilia, "red-man" syndrome, urticaria, thrombophloebitis, hypersensitivity reactions.

• Risk of increased nephrotoxicity with concomitant aminoglycosides, cisplatin, NSAIDs, amphotericin B, polymycin B, colistin or other nephrotoxic agents.
• Increased neuromuscular blockade with concomitant use of suxamethonium or vecuronium.
•  Increased risk of ototoxicity with other aminoglycoside antibiotics, loop diuretics and ethacrynic acid.
• Increased risk of toxicity with methotrexate.
• Decreased vancomycin levels with dopamine, dobutamine.
• Increased risk of neutropenia with zidovudine.

Hypersensitivity to the drug; history of impaired hearing; IM administration.

Store at 15-30°C. 

Molecular weight

1449.254

Molecular formula

C66H75Cl2N9O24

CAS number

1404-90-6

Precautions

• Renal impairment; neonates, elderly, pregnancy and lactation. Administer by slow IV only.
• By giving vancomycin slowly as a dilute solution (2.5-5 mg/ml) decrease thrombophlebitis and rotate infusion sites frequently.
• Keep rate of infusion ≤10 mg/minutes.
• Serum trough vancomycin levels to be kept at 5-20 mcg/ml depending on severity of infections and sites of infection.
• Monitor renal function, blood counts and auditory functions regularly.
• Discontinue if tinnitus develops.