Celovan Mechanism of Action

Pharmacology: Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic with bactericidal action against a variety of Gram-positive bacteria. It is not active in-vitro against gram-negative bacilli, mycobacteria or fungi. It exerts its action by inhibiting cell wall biosynthesis of susceptible bacteria. There is also evidence that Vancomycin alters the permeability of the cell membrane and selectively inhibits ribonucleic acid synthesis. There is no cross-resistance between Vancomycin and other antibiotics.
Pharmacokinetics: Vancomycin is poorly absorbed after oral administration. It is given intravenously for therapy of systemic infections as intramuscular injection is painful.
The mean elimination half-life of Vancomycin from plasma is 4 to 6 hours in subjects with normal renal function. In the first 24 hours, about 75% of an administered dose of Vancomycin is excreted in urine by glomerular filtration. Mean plasma clearance is about 0.058 L/kg/hr, and mean renal clearance is about 0.048 L/kg/hr. Renal dysfunction slows excretion of Vancomycin. In anephric patients, the average half-life of elimination is 7.5 days. The distribution coefficient is from 0.3 to 0.43 L/kg.
There is no apparent metabolism of the drug. About 60% of an intraperitoneal dose of Vancomycin administered during peritoneal dialysis is absorbed systemically in six hours. Serum concentrations of about 10 mcg/mL are achieved by intraperitoneal injection of 30 mg/kg of Vancomycin. Although Vancomycin is not effectively removed by either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, there have been reports of Vancomycin clearance with haemoperfusion and haemofiltration. Total systemic and renal clearance of Vancomycin may be reduced in the elderly.
Vancomycin is approximately 55% serum protein bound as measured by ultrafiltration at Vancomycin serum concentrations of 10 to 100 mcg/mL. After I.V. administration of Vancomycin, inhibitory concentrations are present in pleural, pericardial, ascitic, and synovial fluids; in urine, in peritoneal dialysis fluid and in atrial appendage tissue. Vancomycin does not readily diffuse across normal meninges into the spinal fluid; but, when the meninges are inflamed, penetration into the spinal fluid occurs.