View source for Vancomycin

[[Category:Medications]]
[[Category:Antibiotics]]
== Description ==

Vancomycin is a glycopeptide [[:Category:Antibiotics|antibiotic medication]] created by the soil bacterium ''Amycolatopsis orientalis''. It is used to treat certain [[:Category:Bacterial infections|bacterial infections]], including complicated skin or lower respiratory infections, bloodstream infections, endocarditis, bone and joint infections, and meningitis. It may be given by mouth but is poorly absorbed.

== Indications ==

* infection by aerobic or anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria, particularly when unresponsive to other antibiotics
* treatment of infections in individuals with serious allergy to penicillins or beta-lactam antimicrobials
* antibacterial prophylaxis for endocarditis after certain procedures
* surgical prophylaxis for major procedures involving implantation of prostheses where the risk of infection is high
* last-resort treatment of [[Sepsis|sepsis]].

== Antibiogram ==

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{|class="wikitable" style="margin:auto;text-align:center"
|-
!colspan="2"| Gram-positive
|-
! Microbe !! Effectiveness
|-
| Staphylococcus aureus || Yes
|-
| Staphylococcus lugdunensis || Yes
|-
| Staphylococcus epidermidis || Yes
|-
| Streptococci || Yes
|-
| Enterococcus || Yes
|-
| Viridans group Streptococcus || Yes
|-
| Listeria || No
|-
!colspan="2"| Gram-negative
|-
! Microbe !! Effectiveness
|-
| Achromobacter || No
|-
| Acinetobacter || No
|-
| Citrobacter || No
|-
| Enterobacter || No
|-
| E. Coli || No
|-
| Klebsiella || No
|-
| Morganella || No
|-
| Proteus || No
|-
| Pseudomonas || No
|-
| Salmonella || No
|}

== Administration routes ==

{{Administration routes|o=y|iv=y}}

== Side effects ==

* tinnitus
* dizziness
* rash
* hypotension
* abnormalities in blood composition, including low platelets and low white blood cells
* bone marrow suppression

When given orally:

* gastrointestinal distress (abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea)
* distorted sense of taste

When given intravenously:

* pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site
* phlebitis

Rare but serious side effects include:

* anaphylaxis
* co-infection
* toxic epidermal necrolysis
* ototoxicity and hearing loss
* acute kidney injury

Most IV side effects can be avoided or reduced by slow infusion rather than bolus administration.

== Dosage ==

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== Available forms ==

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== Pharmacokinetics ==

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== Interactions ==

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