Vancocin CP

Generic Name: Vancomycin hydrochloride
Product Name: Vancocin CP

Indication

Oral.

Used for the treatment of staphylococcal enterocolitis and antibiotic associated C.difficile pseudomembranous colitis
Parenteral administration is not effective against the enterocolitis, and the oral preparation is not effective against other types of infection.

Intravenous.

Used for the treatment of potentially life-threatening infections that cannot be treated with another effective, less toxic antibiotic.
Including: severe staphylococcal (including methicillin resistant strains) infections, streptococci and diphtheroid endocarditis, osteomyelitis, pneumonia, septicaemia, soft tissue infections.
For Enterococci endocarditis (e.g. S.faecalis) vancomycin is only effective in combination with an aminoglycoside.

Action

Microbiology.

Vancomycin kills some of the bacteria commonly responsible for serious infections.

Pharacokinetics.

Vancomycin is poorly absorbed after oral administration.
It is given intravenously for the treatment of systemic infections.
Peak plasma levels are achieved immediately after completion of infusion, and the mean elimination half-life is 4-6 hours in patients with normal renal function. In subjects with renal impairment, serum levels will be higher, and toxicity may occur.
Vancomycin is excreted unchanged in the urine. It is not effectively removed by haemo- or peritoneal dialysis.

Dose advice

Relevant bacteriological cultures and sensitivities should be performed to identify the offending pathogen and its susceptibility to vancomycin.

Vancomycin must not be given by intramuscular injection.

Schedule

Common side effects

Indigestion, stomach ache, nausea, chills, diarrhoea, vomiting (oral form)
New bacterial or fungal infections due to overgrowth of non-susceptible organisms