Please note: This is for information only.

Refer to local guidelines for treatment recommendations

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• A glycopeptide antibiotic (closely related to teicoplanin).
• Usual adult dose 1g BD IV but dose must be reduced in elderly patients or patients with renal impairment.
• IV Vancomycin therapy requires monitoring of serum levels to ensure efficacy and minimise toxicity. IV Vancomycin must be given by slow IV infusion over at least 2 hours.
• Oral vancomycin is NOT absorbed and cannot be used for systemic infections. It is a 2nd-line treatment for Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea (125 mg PO QDS).

 

• Continuous Vancomycin Infusion Protocol - DCC use only

Main indications

• Severe community-acquired pneumonia (in patients with a risk of MRSA)
• 1st line therapy for suspected staphylococcal sepsis in patients with a risk of MRSA.
• C.difficile infection

Active against most strains of:

• Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA)
• Staph.epidermidis
• Streptococci
• Enterococci
• Diptheroids
• Clostridium difficile
• Clostridium perfringens

Not active against:

• Coliforms
• Pseudomonas
• Bacteroides
• Vancomycin-resistant Entercocci
• Vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) - becoming more prevalent due to widespread vancomycin use
• A few strains of Staphylococcus aureus (GISA) and Staph.epidermidis are now vancomycin insensitive.