title: Limitations of vancomycin in the management of resistant staphylococcal infections.
abstract: Vancomycin is effective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and has been widely used in the past few years. However, several recent reports have highlighted the limitations of vancomycin, and its role in the management of serious infections is now being reconsidered. Vancomycin treatment failure rates are associated with an increase in the minimum inhibitory concentration as well as a decrease in the rate of bacterial killing. The intrinsic limitations of vancomycin also include poor tissue penetration, particularly in the lung; relatively slow bacterial killing; and the potential for toxicity. In addition, intermediate-level vancomycin resistance has emerged among staphylococci, as have rare cases of fully resistant strains. Because of these problems, when using vancomycin, it is probably prudent to carefully establish the diagnosis, test for antimicrobial susceptibility, and monitor serum trough concentrations to ensure adequate dosing.
authors: Medical Intensive Care Unit and Respiratory Care Services, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. mkollef@im.wustl.edu
authors: Marin H
authors: MH
authors: Kollef
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014640:Vancomycin