Vancomycin

• Vancomycin is a tricyclic glycopeptide that is effective against multiple drug-resistant organisms, such as MRSA and enterococci.
• Vancomycin has bacteriostatic activity against Gram-positive bacteria but can be bactericidal at high concentrations or when used with other antibiotics.
• Vancomycin inhibits synthesis of bacterial cell wall phospholipids + peptidoglycan polymerization
• Vancomycin, a glycopeptide, is active only against gram-positive bacteria, especially staphylococci.
• Vancomycin is bacteriocidal for gram-positive bacteria and those resistant to nafcillin and methicillin.
• Clinical Uses of vancomycin include

  • Sepsis
  • Endocarditis due to MRSA
  • Enterococcal endocarditis
  • Meningitis (Vancomycin w/ cefotaxime, ceftriaxone or rifampin)
• Slow IV infusion (60–90 minutes) of vancomycin is employed for treatment of systemic infections.
• vancomycin is not absorbed after oral administration
• Side effects of vancomycin include

  • fever
  • chills
  • phlebitis
  • flushing
  • ototoxicity, nephrotoxicity (in combo w/ aminoglycoside)