Vancomycin and glycopeptide antibiotics

General

The so-called glycopeptide antibiotics include substances with the active ingredient vancomycin.

effect

To the so-called Glycopeptide antibiotics count substances with the active ingredient Vancomycin. These drugs work through one Inhibition of cell wall formation the bacteria. If the cells can no longer build their outer shell, they die and the infection subsides.

Areas of application

Glycopeptide antibiotics are used in diseases caused by gram-positive germs. If a patient falls ill with the hospital germ MRSA (multi-resistant staphylococcus aureus) Vancomycin an important drug.
In the intestinal disease Pseudomembranous colitis It is also very popular.

However, there are also bacteria that are resistant to vancomycin. These include, for example, vancomycin-resistant enterococci (= VRE), which are also among the Hospital germs can be counted.

Side effects

As a side effect of glycopeptide antibiotics, kidney damage (Nephrotoxicity) and hearing disorders (Ototoxicity) occur. Care should also be taken not to combine glycopeptides with drugs that have the same spectrum of side effects, as the effects then increase accordingly (e.g. with Aminoglycosides or Furosemide, Trade name: Lasix®).

Please also read our article on this Antibiotic side effects