Vancolife Special Precautions

This drug should be used with caution in the following patients: In general rule, this drug should not be used to patients with auditory disorder caused by peptide and aminoglycoside antibiotics or with other auditory disorder. However, if inevitable, it should be used with caution.
Patients with renal dysfunction such as acute urinary retention (since excretion is prolonged, serum level should be monitored with caution).
Patients with hepatic impairment (Hepatic impairment may be manifested or aggravated).
Elderly.
Premature, newborn.
Patients with cochlea damage or vestibular organ damage.
General Cautions: To prevent the development of drug-resistant bacteria, susceptibility should be confirmed and it is recommended to use vancomycin during the minimum period.
Vancomycin should be used with caution in patients with renal insufficiency because the risk of toxicity is appreciably increased by high, prolonged blood concentrations. The dose should be reduced according to the degree of renal impairment. In order to minimize the risk of nephrotoxicity when treating patients with underlying renal dysfunction or patients receiving concomitant therapy with an aminoglycoside, serial monitoring of renal function should be performed and particular care should be taken in following appropriate dosing schedules.
When oral vancomycin is used in treating antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis caused by C. difficile and for staphylococcal enterocolitis, if symptoms including diarrhea, belly ache and pyrexia, are not clearly improved within 7-10 days, discontinue therapy.
Prolonged use of this medicine may result in the overgrowth of nonsusceptible organism. If superinfection occurs during therapy, appropriate measures should be taken.
Serial tests of auditory function may be helpful in order to minimize the risk of ototoxicity.
In the therapy, blood levels test, urinalysis and renal function tests should be performed regularly. Patients who will undergo prolonged therapy with this medicine or those who are receiving concomitant drugs causing neutropenia should have periodic monitoring of the leukocyte count.
Use in Children: Caution should be exercised in prematures, neonates and infants who are under developmental stage of kidney because high blood concentration can persist for a long time by prolonged half life.
Use in the Elderly: Because elderly usually has decreased renal function, dosage reductions may be necessary.
Therefore, regular renal function should be taken and dosage should be reduced according to the degree of renal impairment.