Indication
Vancomycin is indicated in potentially life-threatening infections which cannot be treated with other effective, less toxic antimicrobial drugs including the penicillins and cephalosporins. Vancomycin is useful in the therapy of severe staphylococcal infections in patients who cannot receive or who have failed to respond to the penicillins and cephalosporins or who have infections with staphylococci, resistant to other antibiotics. Vancomycin is used in the treatment of endocarditis and as prophylaxis against endocarditis in patients undergoing dental or surgical procedures. Its effectiveness has been documented in other infections due to staphylococci including osteomyelitis, pneumonia, septicemia and soft tissue infections.
Dosage & Administration
Concentrations of not more than 5 mg/ml and rates of not more than 10 mg/min are recommended in adults. In selected patients in need of fluid restriction, a concentration up to 10 mg/ml may be used. Patients with Normal Renal Function: Adults: Usual daily dose is 2 gm (in 4 or 2 divided doses). Children: Total daily dose is 40 mg/Kg (in 4 divided doses). Infants and Neonates: An initial dose of 15 mg/Kg is suggested followed by 10 mg/Kg every 12 hours in the first week, then every 8 hours up to 1 month. Patients with Impaired Renal Function and Elderly Patients: Dosage adjustment must be made in patients with impaired renal function. In premature infants and the elderly, dosage reduction may be necessary to a greater extent than expected because of decreasing renal function. If creatinine clearance can be measured or estimated accurately, the dosage for most patients with renal impairment can be calculated using the following table. Dosage Table for Vancomycin Hydrochloride In Patients With Impaired Renal Function:
Creatinine Clearance ml/min | Vancomycin Dose mg/24 h |
---|---|
100 | 1545 |
90 | 1390 |
80 | 1235 |
70 | 1080 |
60 | 925 |
50 | 770 |
40 | 620 |
30 | 465 |
20 | 310 |
10 | 155 |
Precautions
Patients with borderline renal function and individuals over the age of 60 should be given serial tests of auditory function and of Vancomycin blood levels. All patients receiving the drug should have periodic haematological studies, urine analysis and renal function tests. Vancomycin is very irritating to tissue and causes injection site necrosis when injected intramuscularly. It must be infused intravenously. Injection site pain and thrombophlebitis occur in many patients receiving Vancomycin and are occasionally severe. Prolonged use of Vancomycin may result in the overgrowth of non-susceptible organisms. Careful observation of the patient is essential. If superinfection occurs during therapy, appropriate measures should be taken. In rare instances, there have been reports of pseudomembranous colitis due to C. difficile, developing in patients who received intravenous Vancomycin. Use in Pregnancy: It is not known whether it causes foetal harm or not. Vancomycin should be given in pregnancy only if clearly needed and blood levels should be monitored carefully to minimise the risk of foetal toxicity. Use in Lactation: Vancomycin Hydrochloride is excreted in human milk. Caution should be exercised when Vancomycin is administered to a nursing woman. It is unlikely that a nursing infant can absorb a significant amount of Vancomycin from its gastro-intestinal tract.