Vancomycin

Generic name: Vancomycin

Brand names: Firvanq , Vancocin, Vinjec

Drug class: Glycopeptide antibiotics

What is Vancomycin?

Vancomycin is a potent antibiotic primarily used to treat bacterial infections caused by gram-positive bacteria. It belongs to the glycopeptide class of antibiotics and works by inhibiting the synthesis of the bacterial cell wall, ultimately leading to the death of the bacteria.

Vancomycin is often reserved for treating infections caused by bacteria that are resistant to other antibiotics, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Enterococcus species. These bacteria are notorious for their resistance to multiple antibiotics, making vancomycin a critical treatment option in such cases.

How does vancomycin produce its action?

Mechanism of action:

1. Inhibition of Cell Wall Synthesis: Vancomycin binds to the D-alanyl-D-alanine terminus of the growing peptidoglycan chain, thereby preventing the cross-linking of peptidoglycan strands essential for the formation of the bacterial cell wall.
2. Blocking Transpeptidation: By inhibiting transpeptidation, vancomycin effectively prevents the final stage of bacterial cell wall synthesis, leading to the weakening and eventual lysis of the bacterial cell.
3. Bactericidal Activity: Vancomycin’s disruption of cell wall synthesis results in bacterial cell death, making it a bactericidal antibiotic.

Pharmacokinetics of vancomycin

1. Absorption: Vancomycin is poorly absorbed when administered orally, so it is typically administered intravenously for systemic infections. However, oral vancomycin can be used for certain gastrointestinal infections, like Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea.
2. Distribution: Vancomycin has a large volume of distribution, leading to good penetration into various tissues and body fluids, including bone, pleural fluid, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). However, its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier is limited unless the meninges are inflamed.
3. Metabolism: Vancomycin is not significantly metabolized in the body.
4. Elimination: Vancomycin is primarily eliminated unchanged by the kidneys through glomerular filtration. The elimination half-life can vary widely depending on kidney function and patient characteristics. In individuals with normal renal function, the half-life is around 6 to 12 hours, but it can be significantly prolonged in patients with impaired renal function.

Read More:https://diseaseandmedicationawareness.com/vancomycin/