vancomycin /van·co·my·cin/ (van″ko-mi´sin) an antibiotic produced by Streptomyces orientalis, highly effective against gram-positive bacteria, especially against staphylococci; used as the hydrochloride salt.
vancomycin
vancomycin
van·co·my·cin (v ng k -m  s n, vnk-)n. An antibiotic that is produced by the actinomycete Streptomyces orientalis and is effective against staphylococci and spirochetes. |
vancomycin
[van′kōmī′sin]
an antibiotic.
indications It is prescribed in the treatment of infections, particularly staphylococcal infections resistant to other antibiotics and antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis caused by Clostridium difficile.
contraindications Concomitant administration of neurotoxic, nephrotoxic, or ototoxic drugs or known hypersensitivity to this drug prohibits its use.
adverse effects Among the more serious adverse effects are anaphylaxis, dizziness, and tinnitus.
vancomycin
a narrow-spectrum antibiotic produced by Streptomyces orientalis, highly effective against gram-positive bacteria; it is commonly reserved for use against serious infections caused by penicillinase-resistant Staphylococci. The toxic effects are quite severe and include damage to the eighth cranial (vestibulocochlear) nerve and renal disorders.
vancomycin resistant enterococcus
a group of multi-drug resistant bacteria associated with high mortality in humans.
antibiotic
1. Pertaining to the ability to destroy or inhibit other living organisms.
2. A substance derived from a mould or bacterium, or produced synthetically, that destroys (bactericidal) or inhibits the growth (bacteriostatic) of other microorganisms and is thus used to treat infections. Some substances have a narrow spectrum of activity whereas others act against a wide range of both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms (broad-spectrum antibiotics). Antibiotics can be classified into several groups according to their mode of action on or within bacteria: (1) Drugs inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis, such as bacitracin, vancomycin and the β-lactams based agents (e.g. penicillin, cephalosporins (e.g. ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefuroxime). (2) Drugs affecting the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane, such as polymyxin B sulfate and gramicidin. (3) Drugs inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis, such as aminoglycosides (e.g. amikacin sulfate, framycetin sulfate, gentamicin, neomycin sulfate and tobramycin), tetracyclines, macrolides (e.g. erythromycin and azithromycin) and chloramphenicol. (4) Drugs inhibiting the intermediate metabolism of bacteria, such as sulfonamides (e.g. sulfacetamide sodium) and trimethoprim. (5) Drugs inhibiting bacterial DNA synthesis, such as nalixidic acid and fluoroquinolones (e.g. ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, norfloxacin and ofloxacin). (6) Other antibiotics such as fusidic acid, the diamidines, such as propamidine isethionate and dibrompropamidine. Syn. antibacterial. See antiinflammatory drug; fusidic acid.
vancomycin
A glycopeptide antibiotic effective against coccal bacteria, especially in recalcitrant staphylococcal infections–eg, MRSA, unresponsive to penicillins or cephalosporins Adverse effects Ototoxicity, nephrotoxicity
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