Title : Vancomycin: Overview of dosing and therapeutic drug monitoring
Abstract:
Vancomycin has been in clinical use for more than 50 years. It is a highly effective antimicrobial agent against gram positive organisms including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococci spp. However, there are practical challenges in the use of vancomycin including the need for long administration time to avoid infusion reaction, difficulty in attaining the optimal AUC/MIC ratio to maximize efficacy, association with nephrotoxicity in susceptible patients and access to appropriately expertise in therapeutic drug monitoring. Using a number of clinical cases, practical aspects of vancomycin dosing and therapeutic drug monitoring will be highlighted. Strategies to maximize efficacy and minimize toxicity will be provided.
Audience take away:
• Review clinical pharmacology of vancomycin, including its unique pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
• Discuss adverse effects of vancomycin, in particular nephrotoxicity in susceptible patients
• Illustrating practical aspects of vancomycin dosing and therapeutic drug monitoring using actual clinical cases
• Outline strategies to optimize vancomycin dosing and monitoring to maximize efficacy and minimize toxicity
