Vancomycin Hydrochloride(van koe mye’ sin)
Vancocin
PREGNANCY CATEGORY C
PREGNANCY CATEGORY B
(PULVULES)
Drug Class
Antibiotic
Therapeutic Actions
Bactericidal: Inhibits cell wall synthesis of susceptible organisms, causing cell death.
Indications
Parenteral: Potentially life-threatening staphylococcal and enterococcal diphtheroid infections not treatable with other less toxic antibiotics
Parenteral: Treatment of staphylococcal or streptococcal endocarditis
Oral: Staphylococcal enterocolitis and antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis caused by Clostridium difficile
Available Forms
Capsules—125, 250 mg; injection—500 mg, 750 mg; 1, 5, 10 g; injection solution—500 mg/100 mL, 750 mg/150 mL, 1 g/200 mL
Dosages
Adults
500 mg–2 g/day PO in three or four divided doses for 7–10 days; 500 mg IV every 6 hr or 1 g IV every 12 hr.
Pseudomembranous colitis caused by C. difficile: 125 mg PO four times a day for 10 days.
Pediatric patients
40 mg/kg/day PO in three to four divided doses for 7–10 days. 10 mg/kg/dose IV every 6 hr. Do not exceed 2 g/day.
Premature and full-term neonates
Use with caution because of incompletely developed renal function. Initial dose of 15 mg/kg IV, followed by 10 mg/kg IV every 12 hr in first week of life and every 8 hr thereafter up to age of 1 mo.
Pseudomembranous colitis caused by C. difficile: 40 mg/kg/day in four divided doses PO for 7–10 days. Do not exceed 2 g/day.
Geriatric patients or patients with renal failure
Monitor dosage and serum levels very carefully. Dosage nomogram is available for determining the dose according to CrCl (see manufacturer’s insert).
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