VANCOMYCIN

VANCONMYCIN IS AN ANTIBIOTIC USED TO TREAT INFECTIONS BY GRAM POSITIVE ORGANISMS RESISTANT TO BETA-LACTAM ANTIBIOTICS. VANCOMYCIN IS ASSOCIATED WITH NEPHROTOXOCITY & OTOTOXICITY, HENCE THERAPEUTIC MONITORING IS ESSENTIAL SPECIALLY IN PATIENTS WITH REDUCED RENAL FUNCTION, AGGRESSIVE OR PROLONGED VANCOMYCIN THERAPY AND CO-MEDICATION WITH OTHER NEPHROTOXIC AGENTS. TOXIC EFFECTS HAVE RESULTED WHEN SERUM CONCENTRATIONS OF VANCOMYCIN REACH 80 TO 100 ?G/ML AND ARE RARELY SEEN WHEN SERUM LEVELS ARE MAINTAINED BELOW 30 ?G/ML. IF AN AMINOGLYCOSIDE IS BEING USED CONCURRENTLY, THE POTENTIAL FOR TOXICITY IS ADDITIVE.