When should vancomycin levels be checked?

Vancomycin level should be obtained 24 hours after the first dose is given. The patient can be re-prescribed a stat dose when the vancomycin trough concentration is below 20mg/L.

What is vancomycin test?

Vancomycin is an antibiotic that is used to treat serious infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria. This test measures the concentration of vancomycin in the blood.

What should be monitored when taking vancomycin?

Considerations. Evaluate BUN, creatinine, and CrCl before starting therapy and at intervals, or as needed to monitor renal status thereafter. Each hospital may have different protocols with antibiotic stewardship, vancomycin level monitoring, and treatment duration.

How do I check my vancomycin level?

A vancomycin plasma trough sample should be taken approximately 48hrs after initiation of therapy (3rd Day) and timed to coincide with morning pathology rounds and within 30 minutes prior to the morning dose. Routine levels should be ordered no more than twice weekly if stable and within target range.

How effective is vancomycin?

Overall, the use of vancomycin for pneumonia is effective. This is because vancomycin is an antibiotic, along with other treatments such as doxycycline. Any antibiotic treatment has around an 80 percent chance of curing bacterial pneumonia, and this means that using one specific drug to treat all cases is unnecessary.

Why monitor serum vancomycin levels?

Vancomycin levels are monitored to ensure that the patient is not under dosed which may lead to a poorer outcome. Monitoring is also necessary to reduce the risk of toxicity.

What is the trough level of vancomycin?

Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic, typically used for treatment of MRSA . Traditionally it is recommended to get trough doses to assess efficiency. Typically, we aim for Vancomycin trough levels between 10-20µg/mL (15-20 µg/mL for more severe infections).