Tergocin

Teicoplanin is a glycopeptide antibiotic that has shown in vitro bactericidal activity against both anaerobic and aerobic gram-positive organisms. Teicoplanin inhibits the growth of susceptible organisms by interfering with cell-wall biosynthesis at a site different from that affected by beta-lactams. It is active against staphylococci (including those resistant to methicillin and other beta-lactam antibiotics), streptococci, enterococci, Listeria monocytogenes, micrococci, group JK corynebacteria and gram-positive anaerobes including Clostridium difficile and peptococci.

Teicoplanin should be administered with caution in patients receiving concurrent nephrotoxic or ototoxic drugs such as Aminoglycosides, Amphotericin B, Cyclosporine and Frusemide.

Teicoplanin is generally well tolerated. Serious side-effects are rare. Side-effects are gastrointestinal like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, CNS associated with urticaria, rash, anaphylactic shock as well as hearing problems like vertigo, tinnitus and vestibular disorder may occur.

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women about administration of Teicoplanin; this drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. Information about the excretion of Teicoplanin in milk is not known.

Teicoplanin should be administered with caution in patients with renal insufficiency, patients who require concurrent use of drugs which have ototoxic and/or nephrotoxic properties.

Patients with renal impairment: For patients with impaired renal function, reduction of dosage is not required until the fourth day of Teicoplanin treatment. From the fourth day of treatment-

In mild renal insufficiency: Teicoplanin dose should be halved either by administering the initial unit dose every two days, or by administering half of this dose once a day when creatinine clearance is 40-60 ml/min.

In severe renal insufficiency: Teicoplanin dose should be 1/3 of the normal either by administering the initial unit dose every third day or by administering 1/3 of this dose once a day when creatinine clearance is less than 40 ml/min and in haemodialysed patients. Teicoplanin is not removed by dialysis.

Glycopeptide