Vancomycin is an antibiotic used to treat a number of bacterial infections.It is recommended intravenously as a first-line treatment for complicated skin infections,bloodstream infections, endocarditis, bone and joint infections, and meningitis caused bymethicillin-resistants. aureus. Blood levels may be measured to determine the correct dose.Vancomycin is also recommended by mouth as a treatment for severe Clostridium difficilecolitis. When taken by mouth it is very poorly absorbed.

Vancomycin is a branched tricyclic glycosylated nonribosomal peptide produced by the Actinobacteria species Amycolatopsis orientalis (formerly designated Nocardia orientalis).

Vancomycin exhibits atropisomerism ¡ª it has multiple chemically distinct rotamers owing to the rotational restriction of some of the bonds. The form present in the drug is the thermodynamically more stable conformer, so has more potent activity.

Main purposes:to narrow spectrum antibiotics effective only gram-positive bacteria, such as hemolytic streptococcus, pneumococcus, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and other enterococci are sensitive to resistant Staphylococcus aureus is especially sensitive to this product. The mechanism is to inhibit the synthesis of bacterial cell wall, which combines primary and bacterial cell wall, leaving certain amino acids can not enter in the cell wall glycopeptides. Penicillin-resistant S. aureus is mainly used for clinical caused by serious infections such as pneumonia, endocarditis.

Vancomycin is indicated for the treatment of serious, life-threatening infections by gram-positive bacteria unresponsive to other antibiotics. In particular, vancomycin should not be used to treat methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus because it is inferior to penicillins such as nafcillin.

Treatment of serious infections caused by susceptible organisms resistant to penicillins (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) and multiresistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE)) or in individuals with serious allergy to penicillins.

Treatment of pseudomembranous colitis caused by Clostridium difficile; in particular, in cases of relapse or where the infection is unresponsive to metronidazole treatment (for this indication, vancomycin is given orally, rather than by its typical intravenous (IV) route).

For treatment of infections caused by gram-positive microorganisms in patients with serious allergies to beta-lactam antimicrobials.

Antibacterial prophylaxis for endocarditis following certain procedures in penicillin-hypersensitive individuals at high risk.Surgical prophylaxis for major procedures involving implantation ofprostheses in institutions with a high rate of MRSA or MRSE.Early in treatment as an empiric antibiotic for possible MRSA infection while waiting for culture identification of the infecting organism.Has shown some success long term in halting the progression of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis and preventing symptoms; Vancomycin does not cure the patient however .