Vancomycin
Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic medication.
Blood levels may be measured to determine the correct dose.
When taken by mouth it is poorly absorbed.
Vancomycin Cerebrospinal Fluid Pharmacokinetics
A study described the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) exposure of vancomycin in 8 children prescribed intravenous vancomycin therapy for cerebral ventricular shunt infection. Vancomycin CSF concentrations ranged from 0.06 to 9.13 mg/L and the CSF: plasma ratio ranged from 0 to 0.66. Two of 3 children with a staphylococcal CSF infection had CSF concentrations greater than the minimal inhibitory concentration at the end of the dosing interval 1).
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) penetration and the pharmacokinetics of vancomycin were studied after continuous infusion (50 to 60 mg/kg of body weight/day after a loading dose of 15 mg/kg) in 13 mechanically ventilated patients hospitalized in an intensive care unit. Seven patients were treated for sensitive bacterial meningitis and the other six patients, who had a severe concomitant neurologic disease with intracranial hypertension, were treated for various infections. Vancomycin CSF penetration was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the meningitis group (serum/CSF ratio, 48%) than in the other group (serum/CSF ratio, 18%). Vancomycin pharmacokinetic parameters did not differ from those obtained with conventional dosing. No adverse effect was observed, in particular with regard to renal function 2).
Ichinose et al. evaluated the concentration of Vancomycin in the plasma and CSF of postoperative neurosurgical patients with bacterial meningitis and evaluated the factors that affect the transferability of VCM to CSF. The concentrations of VCM in plasma (trough) and CSF were determined in eight patients (four males and four females) with bacterial meningitis who were treated with VCM using High-performance liquid chromatography. The ratio of the VCM concentrations in CSF/plasma was also calculated by estimating the blood VCM concentration at the same time as the VCM concentration in CSF was measured. The results showed that the VCM concentration in CSF was 0.9-12.7 µg/mL and the CSF/plasma VCM concentration ratio was 0.02-0.62. They examined the effect of drainage on the transferability of VCM to CSF, which showed that the VCM concentration in CSF and the CSF/plasma VCM concentration ratio were significantly higher in patients not undergoing drainage than in patients who were undergoing drainage. The CSF protein and glucose concentrations, which are diagnostic indicators of meningitis, were positively correlated with the VCM concentration in CSF and the CSF/plasma VCM concentration ratio. Thus, VCM transferability to CSF may be affected by changes in the status of the blood-brain barrier and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier due to drainage or meningitis 3).
Indications
Vancomycin powder
see Vancomycin powder.