
Serious Systemic Infections
- IV (Adults ): 500 mg every 6 hr or 1 g every 12 hr (up to 4 g/day).
- IV (Children >1 mo): 40 mg/kg/day divided every 6–8 hr. Staphylococcal CNS infection: 60 mg/kg/day divided every 6 hr, maximum dose: 1 g/dose.
- IV (Neonates 1 wk–1 mo and >2000 g): 15–20 mg/kg every 8 hr.
- IV (Neonates 1 wk–1 mo and 1200–2000 g): 10–15 mg/kg every 8–12 hr.
- IV (Neonates 1 wk–1 mo and <1200 g): 15 mg/kg every 24 hr.
- IV (Neonates <1 wk and >2000 g): 10–15 mg/kg every 8–12 hr.
- IV (Neonates <1 wk and 1200–2000 g): 10–15 mg/kg every 12–18 hr.
- IV (Neonates <1 wk and <1200 g): 15 mg/kg every 24 hr.
- IT (Adults ): 20 mg/day.
- IT (Children ): 5–20 mg/day.
- IT (Neonates ): 5–10 mg/day.
Renal Impairment
- IV (Adults ): An initial loading dose of 750 mg–1 g (not less than 15 mg/kg); serum level monitoring is optimal for choosing maintenance dose in patients with renal impairment; these guidelines may be helpful. CCr 50–80 mL/min: 1 g every 1–3 days; CCr 10–50 mL/min: 1 g every 3–7 days; CCr <10 mL/min: 1 g every 7–14 days.
Endocarditis Prophylaxis in Penicillin-Allergic Patients
- IV (Adults and Adolescents): 1 g single dose 1 hr preprocedure.
- IV (Children ): 20 mg/kg single dose 1 hr preprocedure.
Diarrhea Due to C. difficile
- PO (Adults ): 125 mg every 6 hr for 10 days.
- PO (Children ): 40 mg/kg/day divided into 3 or 4 doses for 7–10 days (not to exceed 2 g/day).
Staphylococcal Enterocolitis
- PO (Adults ): 500–2000 mg/day in 3–4 divided doses for 7–10 days.
- PO (Children ): 40 mg/kg/day in 3–4 divided doses for 7–10 days (not to exceed 2 g/day).
Therapeutic Classification: anti-infectives
Absorption: Poorly absorbed from the GI tract.
Distribution: Widely distributed to tissues. Some penetration (20–30%) of CSF.
Metabolism/Excretion: Oral doses excreted primarily in the feces; IV vancomycin eliminated almost entirely by the kidneys.
Half-Life: Neonates: 6–10 hr; Children 3 mo–3 yr: 4 hr; Children >3 yr: 2–2.3 hr; Adults: 5–8 hr (↑ in renal impairment).