How to remember Vancomycin side effects – mnemonics

How to remember Vancomycin side effects ?

Vancomycin is an anti-infective agent covering gm+v infections including MRSA. It is known as the gold standard for treating MRSA infections.

Vancomycin is popular for its nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity along with “Red Man Syndrome”.

How to remember the side effects of Vancomycin?

NOT RED

Although it is RED! anyway lets break it:

N : Nephrotoxicity

O : Ototoxicity

T : Thrombophlebitis

RED : RED Man Syndrome

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You have to know the following about Vancomycin:

Class:

glycopeptides.

Mechanism of Action:

Block peptidoglycan synthesis.

Action effect:

Bactericidal.

Vancomycin (clinical use):

Used for serious, Gm+ve multidrug resistant organisms. including staph aureus “MRSA” and Clostridium difficile (pseudomembranous colitits).

Superbugs resistance to Vancomycin:

• Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE)
• Vancomycin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (VRSA)
• Vancomycin Intermediate resistant staphylococcus aureus (VISA)

MIC Creep of Vancomycin:

It is a shift in the minimum inhibitory concentration of Vancomycin to MRSA, usually the increase lead to failure in treatment.

Alternatives to Vancomycin:

Linezolid, daptomycin, ceftaroline and tedizolid  – All of them has MRSA coverage with different approved indications.