Examples
|
| Vancocin, Vancoled | vancomycin hydrochloride | |
How It Works
Vancomycin kills bacteria by preventing them from reproducing. It
is given through a vein (intravenously, or IV).
Why It Is Used
Doctors use vancomycin to treat people who are in the hospital for
severe infections that do not respond to other antibiotics. Infections may
include those of the blood or bone; lower respiratory tract, such as
pneumonia or complications of flu; and
endocarditis.
How Well It Works
In general, all antibiotics used have a high cure rate for
pneumonia. For people in the hospital, cure rates are 73% to 96%; outside of
the hospital, cure rates are generally above 80%.1
Vancomycin is effective against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus (especially the
type that is methicillin-resistant), and Listeria monocytogenes, among other bacteria.
Side Effects
Side effects of vancomycin may include:
- Nausea.
- Fever.
- Chills.
- Low
blood pressure.
- Hearing loss. This is rare, but it has occurred in
people who received excessive doses, were taking another medicine that may
cause hearing loss, or who already had some hearing loss. Hearing loss has also
occurred in people with kidney disease.
- Kidney damage, especially
in people who already have kidney problems.
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference
is not available in all systems.)
What To Think About
Doctors are careful about the use of vancomycin because using it
too much can result in intestinal bacteria (enterococci) and types of
Staphylococcus aureus (staph) that vancomycin can not
always kill (resistance).2
Complete the new medication information form (PDF) 
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to help you understand this medication.
References
Citations
Loeb M (2006). Community acquired pneumonia, search
date April 2005. Online version of Clinical Evidence
(15): 1-10.
Bartlett JG, et al. (2000). Guidelines from the
Infectious Diseases Society of America: Practice guidelines for the management
of community-acquired pneumonia in adults. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 31(2): 347-382.
Credits
| Author | Ralph Poore |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | R. Steven Tharratt, MD, MPVM, FACP, FCCP - Pulmonology, Critical Care, Medical Toxicology |
| Last Updated | April 2, 2007 |
Loeb M (2006). Community acquired pneumonia, search
date April 2005. Online version of Clinical Evidence
(15): 1-10.
Bartlett JG, et al. (2000). Guidelines from the
Infectious Diseases Society of America: Practice guidelines for the management
of community-acquired pneumonia in adults. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 31(2): 347-382.
