Significant Absorption of Oral Vancomycin in a Patient with Clostridium difficile Colitis and Normal Renal Function

The Development and Validation of a Simple HPLC-UV Method for the Determination of Vancomycin Concentration in Human Plasma and Application in Critically Ill Patients

Vancomycin is an antimicrobial agent that exhibits high efficacy against Gram-positive bacteria. The importance of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for vancomycin has been substantiated in specific patient cohorts, underscoring the significance of determining vancomycin plasma levels. This study presents the development and validation of a simple, reproducible, and practical approach for quantifying vancomycin levels in human plasma samples through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Deproteinization of plasma samples (0.3 mL) was achieved using 10% perchloric acid. The chromatographic separation was achieved using a C18 column. The mobile phase, consisting of phosphate buffer and acetonitrile (90:10, v/v), was run at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. Ultraviolet detection was conducted at a wavelength of 192 nm and the method was linear in the range of 4.5-80 mg/L (r2 > 0.99). Inter- and intra-day assay precision and accuracy were determined to be within the acceptable range. The run time was noted to be 10 min. This method was evaluated using different greenness tools, which indicated that the method is environmentally friendly. Our method was effectively applied to analyze vancomycin concentrations in critically ill patients. Thus, our approach has the potential for practical implementation in routine TDM procedures.

Dose optimization and target attainment of vancomycin in children

Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic that has been adopted in clinical practice to treat gram-positive infections for more than 70 years. Despite vancomycin's long history of therapeutic use, optimal dose adjustments and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) target attainment in children are still under debate. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) has been widely integrated into pediatric clinical practice to maximize efficacy and safety of vancomycin treatment. Area under the curve (AUC)-guided TDM has been recently recommended instead of trough-only TDM to ensure PK/PD target attainment of AUC0-24h/minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) > 400 to 600 and minimize acute kidney injury risk. Bayesian forecasting in pediatric patients allows estimation of population PK to accurately predict individual vancomycin concentrations over time, and consequently total vancomycin exposure. AUC-guided TDM for vancomycin, preferably with Bayesian forecasting, is therefore suggested for all pediatric age groups and special pediatric populations. In this review we aim to analyze the current literature on the pediatric use of vancomycin and summarize the current knowledge on dosing optimization for target attainment in special patient populations.

Antibiotic treatment targeting gram negative bacteria prevents neratinib-induced diarrhea in rats

Background

Neratinib is a pan-ErbB tyrosine kinase inhibitor used for extended adjuvant treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer. Diarrhea is the main adverse event associated with neratinib treatment. We aimed here to determine whether antibiotic-induced gut microbial shifts altered development of neratinib-induced diarrhea.

Methods

Female Albino Wistar rats (total n = 44) were given antibiotics (vancomycin, neomycin, or a cocktail of vancomycin, neomycin and ampicillin) in drinking water for four weeks, and then treated daily with neratinib (50 mg/kg) for 28 days. Diarrhea, along with markers of gastrointestinal damage and microbial alterations were measured by histopathology and 16S sequencing, respectively.

Results

Rats treated with vancomycin or neomycin had significantly lower levels of diarrhea than rats treated with neratinib alone. In the distal ileum, neratinib was associated with a statistically significant increase in histological damage in all treatment groups expect the antibiotic cocktail. Key features included villous blunting and fusion and some inflammatory infiltrate. Differences in microbial composition at necropsy in vehicle control, neratinib and neratinib + neomycin groups, were characterized by a neratinib-induced increase in gram-negative bacteria that was reversed by neomycin. Neomycin shifted bacterial composition so that Blautia become the dominant genus.

Conclusions

Narrow spectrum antibiotics reduced neratinib-induced diarrhea. This suggests that the microbiome may play a key role in the development and prolongation of diarrhea following neratinib treatment, although further research is required to understand the key bacteria and mechanisms by which they reduce diarrhea, as well as how this may impact presentation of diarrhea in clinical cohorts.

New Insights Into the Pharmacokinetics of Vancomycin After Oral and Intravenous Administration: An Investigation in Beagle Dogs

Intestinal absorption of orally administered peptides is often negligible because one or more key requirements for successful absorption (water solubility, peptic resistance, mucosal permeation) are not met. Due to its high water solubility and stability in the gastro-intestinal tract, vancomycin is an ideal model peptide for evaluating the factors influencing the critical step of mucosal permeation. Therefore, to support formulation development for the systemic oral delivery of peptide therapeutics, we investigated the pharmacokinetics of vancomycin in beagle dogs after intravenous and oral administration comparing enteric encapsulated drug to the drug in solution, which revealed mean absolute bioavailabilities of 0.27% and 1.66%, respectively. Additionally, in depth pharmacokinetic analyses of intravenously administered vancomycin revealed a deep compartment slowly releasing the compound over many hours into the blood.

Does oral vancomycin use necessitate therapeutic drug monitoring?

PURPOSE

Oral vancomycin use has generally increased as a consequence of the need to treat and/or prevent Clostridium (Clostridiodes) difficile-associated disease (CDAD). This review examines the cumulative scientific evidence that guides therapeutic monitoring of oral vancomycin therapy.

METHODS

The existing publications were reviewed from the time of the drug's inception to July 2019. This review utilized access as available in PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL Plus, and the Cochrane Library.

RESULTS

Case reports and small patient series have documented anecdotal-associated elevations in serum levels. Correlation of absorbed vancomycin with subsequent toxicity is difficult to determine, but serum levels approaching those obtained after parenteral administration have raised concern. Prolonged usage and total dosing over 500 mg/day among adult age ranges have been associated with accumulation. In addition, risk factors for vancomycin accumulation systemically after oral dosing include renal compromise, combined oral and other enteral therapy, severe CDAD, other intercurrent bowel inflammation, polypharmacy, and increased patient complexity/morbidity.

CONCLUSION

Until systemic toxicity from oral vancomycin absorption is better understood, individual considerations should be made for therapeutic serum monitoring during oral vancomycin treatment. Therapeutic drug monitoring is suggested for several high-risk situations in which high blood levels may be anticipated.

Red Man Syndrome with Oral Vancomycin: A Case Report

Red Man syndrome (RMS) occurs with the rapid infusion of intravenous (IV) vancomycin. RMS induced by oral vancomycin has been the focus of a limited number of case reports. We present a case of a 75-year-old female admitted with severe Clostridium difficile colitis who received oral vancomycin and by the second day of therapy, she developed flushing, erythema, and pruritus involving the face, neck and upper torso. Oral vancomycin was immediately withheld, and diphenhydramine was initiated. Clinical improvement was apparent 24 hours after discontinuation of oral vancomycin. Our case adds to the published literature on this rare clinical entity that should be considered when severe colitis patients prescribed oral vancomycin, as part of the standard of care, develop the typical signs and symptoms of RMS.

The Effects of Fasting and Massive Diarrhea on Absorption of Enteral Vancomycin in Critically Ill Patients: A Retrospective Observational Study

Purpose

Although vancomycin (VCM) is not absorbed from healthy intestinal mucosa, elevations in the serum VCM concentrations have been reported in some cases. The aims of this study are to evaluate the necessity of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) during enteral VCM administration in critically ill patients.

Materials and methods

In this retrospective study, we enrolled 19 patients admitted to our intensive care unit who were treated with enteral VCM from December 2006 to January 2014. Clinical factors were compared between two groups: Group E whose serum concentrations were detectable, and Group N whose concentrations were below the detection limit of the VCM assay.

Results

Group E comprises 7 patients, and Group N comprises 12 patients. The fasting duration in Group E was significantly longer compared with that in Group N (17 vs. 8 days, p = 0.023). Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between the serum VCM concentrations and the fasting duration (r = 0.79, p < 0.0001), and the amount of diarrhea (r = 0.46, p = 0.046). No difference was observed in the amount of diarrhea at the time of TDM (Group E; 1,850 mL vs. Group N; 210 mL, p = 0.055) and in the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment subscore for the renal system at the time of TDM (Group E; 4.0 vs. Group N; 1.5, p = 0.068).

Conclusion

Long durations of fasting and massive diarrhea were associated with elevations in the serum VCM concentrations, which suggested that TDM might be necessary during enteral VCM administration in critically ill patients.

Trial registration

UMIN Clinical Trials Registry identifier UMIN000016955.

Fecal Calprotectin Level Reflects the Severity of Clostridium difficile Infection

Clostridium difficile is a significant nosocomial and community-acquired pathogen, and is the leading cause of antibiotic-induced diarrhea associated with high morbidity and mortality. Given that the treatment outcome depends on the severity of C. difficile infection (CDI), we aimed to establish an efficient method of assessing severity, and focused on the stool biomarker fecal calprotectin (FC). FC directly reflects the intestinal inflammation status of a patient, and can aid in interpreting the current guidelines, which requires the integration of indirect laboratory parameters. The distinction of 80 patients with CDI versus 71 healthy controls and 30 severe infection cases versus 50 mild cases was possible using FC as a marker. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves were 0.821 and 0.746 with a sensitivity of 75% and 70% and specificity of 79% and 80%, for severe versus mild cases, respectively. We suggest FC as a predictive marker for assessing CDI severity, which is expected to improve the clinical management of CDI.

Unexplained increases in serum vancomycin concentration in a morbidly obese patient

INTRODUCTION

To report a case of increases in vancomycin concentrations without additional vancomycin doses being given.

CASE STUDY

A 64 year-old morbidly obese female received three total doses of vancomycin for surgical prophylaxis and for ventilator-associated pneumonia. Subsequent vancomycin concentrations from the patient's central venous catheter (CVC) demonstrated increasing drug levels from 27.1 to 45.9mcg/mL despite no additional vancomycin being given and proper line flushing prior to sample collection. There is no clear explanation for the increase in the patient's vancomycin concentration. Drug leaching from the CVC, enterohepatic recycling, drug redistribution from adipose or other tissues, and assay cross-reactivity with other medications are all potential explanations for the increased vancomycin concentrations.

CONCLUSION

This case report describes an unexplained increase in vancomycin concentrations and reinforces both the fallibility of laboratory testing and that unusual circumstances do occur. Several potential causes are hypothesised with CVC drug leaching being the most likely. Nurses and other healthcare providers with similar scenarios should consider a peripheral blood sample to rule out the potential for CVC drug leaching as a possible explanation.

Hypersensitivity Reaction Following Administration of Low-Dose Oral Vancomycin for the Treatment of Clostridium difficile in a Patient With Normal Renal Function

Systemic absorption of oral vancomycin for the treatment of Clostridium difficile is thought to be trivial in patients without risk factors for increased systemic absorption and is often overlooked in clinical practice. A 51-year-old male elicits a suspected immunoglobulin E-mediated hypersensitivity following administration of low-dose oral vancomycin for the treatment of severe C difficile. The patient had normal renal function and was administered low doses of the medication, however, had a medical history significant for diverticulitis. Applying the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale, a score of 5 was obtained, indicating a probable association between the administration of oral vancomycin and the hypersensitivity reaction. This case demonstrates that hypersensitivity reactions following low-dose oral vancomycin administration in patients with severe C difficile are possible, despite having normal renal function. Other risk factors for systemic absorption of oral vancomycin need to be evaluated in the literature, including severity of disease and underlying gastrointestinal processes.

A Prospective Pilot Study on the Systemic Absorption of Oral Vancomycin in Children With Colitis

BACKGROUND: Oral vancomycin is used to treat refractory colitis due to Clostridium dificile infection. Traditionally, oral vancomycin was thought to not be absorbed systemically, but recent adult studies have demonstrated detectable serum levels in over half of patients with severe colitis. This has not been studied in children. OBJECTIVE: To determine the absorption of oral vancomycin and the renal safety profile of oral vancomycin in children hospitalized with colitis. METHODS: We performed a prospective, observational, pilot proof of principle study at the North Carolina Children's Hospital in patients 2 years to 18 years of age receiving oral vancomycin for the treatment of C dificile colitis. Severity of disease was determined using a validated scoring system. Serial serum vancomycin levels and renal function tests were performed during the administration of oral vancomycin. RESULTS: All patients enrolled (n = 8) had mild to moderate C dificile colitis and varying severity of underlying systemic diseases; 7 with inflammatory bowel disease and 1 with acute kidney injury following renal transplantation. No enrolled patients had detectable levels of serum vancomycin. Additionally, no adverse renal outcomes were attributed to oral vancomycin, and no cases of "Red Man" syndrome were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Unlike studies in adult patients, oral vancomycin is likely not absorbed in children with mild to moderate colitis. Further study is needed to determine the pharmacokinetics in severe colitis and those with severe illness in a critical care setting.

Risk factors for systemic vancomycin exposure following administration of oral vancomycin for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection

OBJECTIVE

To identify risk factors for systemic exposure to vancomycin (VAN) following administration of oral vancomycin (POV) for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI).

DESIGN

Prospective, observational, single-center case series.

SETTING

Academic medical center.

PATIENTS

Hospitalized patients with suspected or confirmed CDI who received POV for at least 5 days.

INTERVENTION

Random VAN serum levels were obtained on days 5, 10, and weekly thereafter in patients treated for ≥ 5 days with POV without concomitant intravenous VAN.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

Of 117 random VAN serum levels from 85 patients, 58 patients (68.2%) had one or more detectable (≥ 0.05 μg/ml) levels and 15 (17.6%) of 85 patients had one or more levels > 2.5 μg/ml. Risk factors for detectable VAN exposure following administration of POV included POV dosages > 500 mg/day (odds ratio [OR] 35.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] 7.56-169.8), the presence of severe CDI (OR 4.11, 95% CI 2.76-10.83, p=0.028), intensive care unit (ICU) admission (OR 3.80, 95% CI 1.02-14.21, p=0.032), and the administration of POV ≥ 10 days (OR 6.71, 95% CI 1.81-24.83, p=0.0025). Risk factors for exposure to serum VAN concentrations > 2.5 μg/ml included the presence of gastrointestinal (GI) pathology (OR 5.22, 95% CI 3.45-18.3, p=0.031), ICU admission (OR 3.21, 95% CI 1.40-10.28, p=0.022), the use of VAN retention enemas (OR 4.73, 95% CI 2.42-20.39, p=0.036), and having a creatinine clearance ≤ 50 ml/minute or undergoing hemodialysis or continuous renal replacement therapy (OR 4.03, 95% CI 1.26-12.84, p=0.039).

CONCLUSIONS

Serum VAN levels were detected in 58 (68.2%) of 85 patients receiving POV for CDI. Risk factors for systemic exposure to VAN following administration of POV included ICU admission; VAN dosages > 500 mg/day; administration ≥ 10 days or as retention enemas; and the presence of severe CDI, renal dysfunction, or inflammatory conditions of the GI tract. Unique to our study, we identified ICU admission and the concomitant use of VAN retention enemas to be significant risk factors for systemic exposure to VAN.

Susceptibility of Clostridium difficile isolates from a Phase 2 clinical trial of cadazolid and vancomycin in C. difficile infection

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the susceptibilities of Clostridium difficile isolates to cadazolid, a novel antibiotic for the treatment of C. difficile infection.

Methods

Ribotyping and susceptibilities were determined for C. difficile isolates from a multicentre, double-blind, Phase 2 study of oral cadazolid in patients with C. difficile infection (NCT01222702, ClinicalTrials.gov; EudraCT 2010-020941-29, European Clinical Trials Database). Patients were randomized to receive 250, 500 or 1000 mg of cadazolid twice daily or 125 mg of vancomycin four times daily, for 10 days. MICs of cadazolid, vancomycin, fidaxomicin, linezolid and moxifloxacin were determined at baseline for all patients and post-baseline for patients with clinical failure or recurrence, using the agar dilution method.

Results

Seventy-eight of 84 patients had an evaluable toxigenic C. difficile isolate at baseline. The most frequent PCR ribotype was 027 (15.4%). Cadazolid MICs for baseline isolates (including epidemic strain 027) ranged from 0.06 to 0.25 mg/L. Baseline cadazolid MICs were similar to those of fidaxomicin and lower than those of vancomycin, linezolid and moxifloxacin. For each clinical outcome group (clinical cure, clinical failure, sustained clinical response and clinical failure or recurrence), the baseline cadazolid MIC range was 0.06–0.25 mg/L. Mean (min–max) cadazolid faecal concentration (μg/g) on day 5 was 884 (101–2710), 1706 (204–4230) and 3226 (1481–12 600) for the doses 250, 500 and 1000 mg, respectively.

Conclusions

For all cadazolid doses, the faecal concentration was in excess of several thousand-fold the MIC₉₀ for C. difficile. The MIC of cadazolid for all C. difficile isolates, including epidemic strains, was low and in the same narrow range regardless of treatment outcome.

Enhanced oral bioavailability of vancomycin in rats treated with long-term parenteral nutrition

Long-term parenteral nutrition (PN) can induce intestinal atrophy, leading to a loss of epithelial integrity in the small intestines. This change may alter the intestinal permeability of vancomycin (VCM), a non-absorbable antibiotic. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of PN on the pharmacokinetics of VCM in rats. VCM was intravenously (5 mg/kg) or intraduodenally (20 mg/kg) administered to control and PN rats, which were prepared by administration of PN for 9 days. After intravenous administration, there were no significant differences in any of the VCM pharmacokinetic parameters between the control and PN rats. However, after intraduodenal administration, the maximum concentration and area under the plasma concentration-time curve of VCM in PN rats was approximately 2.4- and 2.6-fold higher, respectively, than in the control rats; the calculated bioavailability was approximately 0.5 and 1.3 % in control and PN rats, respectively. These results indicated that PN administration did not affect VCM disposition, but enhanced VCM absorption; however, the enhanced oral VCM bioavailability was statistically, not clinically, significant. Therefore, while long-term PN administration may play a role in the enhancement of VCM bioavailability, this effect may be negligible without any complications.

Continuous Administration of Vancomycin through a Long Intestinal Tube for Clostridium difficile Infection

A 76-year-old previously healthy Japanese man experienced severe diarrhea (8,000 mL per day) after undergoing laparotomy for small bowel obstruction and was diagnosed with Clostridium difficile infection. Although he developed a maculopapular rash secondary to the systemic absorption of enteral vancomycin (VCM), the patient was successfully treated with the continuous administration of VCM through a long intestinal tube placed in the terminal ileum. This method ensured the reliable delivery of VCM to the colon, while the continuous administration maintained high fecal levels of the drug. This treatment approach is an effective minimally invasive option for patients with severe diarrhea.

European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases: update of the treatment guidance document for Clostridium difficile infection

In 2009 the first European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection (ESCMID) treatment guidance document for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) was published. The guideline has been applied widely in clinical practice. In this document an update and review on the comparative effectiveness of the currently available treatment modalities of CDI is given, thereby providing evidence-based recommendations on this issue. A computerized literature search was carried out to investigate randomized and non-randomized trials investigating the effect of an intervention on the clinical outcome of CDI. The Grades of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system was used to grade the strength of our recommendations and the quality of the evidence. The ESCMID and an international team of experts from 11 European countries supported the process. To improve clinical guidance in the treatment of CDI, recommendations are specified for various patient groups, e.g. initial non-severe disease, severe CDI, first recurrence or risk for recurrent disease, multiple recurrences and treatment of CDI when oral administration is not possible. Treatment options that are reviewed include: antibiotics, toxin-binding resins and polymers, immunotherapy, probiotics, and faecal or bacterial intestinal transplantation. Except for very mild CDI that is clearly induced by antibiotic usage antibiotic treatment is advised. The main antibiotics that are recommended are metronidazole, vancomycin and fidaxomicin. Faecal transplantation is strongly recommended for multiple recurrent CDI. In case of perforation of the colon and/or systemic inflammation and deteriorating clinical condition despite antibiotic therapy, total abdominal colectomy or diverting loop ileostomy combined with colonic lavage is recommended.

Oral Absorption of Enteral Vancomycin in a Child with Clostridium difficile Colitis and Renal Impairment

Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic that is used by the enteral route for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infections and is not thought to be absorbed into the systemic circulation. We report on a 2-year-old, 12.5-kg patient with confirmed C difficile colitis and renal insufficiency that was treated with 125 mg of enteral vancomycin (10 mg/kg); the patient developed measurable systemic concentrations as high as 17.8 mg/L. However, as the patient's colitis began to improve, the serial vancomycin concentrations reflected little to no continued absorption of vancomycin. A review of the literature regarding this rare phenomenon is discussed.

Oral vancomycin desensitisation to treat Clostridium difficile infection in a vancomycin allergic patient

The prevalence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is increasing worldwide. Oral vancomycin is an effective and frequently used treatment. However, patients with CDI who are allergic to intravenous vancomycin cannot receive oral vancomycin due to the risk of anaphylaxis if given the oral form.

We present a case where oral vancomycin desensitisation was used to successfully treat a vancomycin allergic patient with recurrent CDI.

Safety analysis of fidaxomicin in comparison with oral vancomycin for Clostridium difficile infections

Fidaxomicin is a novel macrocyclic antibiotic recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of Clostridium difficile–associated diarrhea in adults. We reviewed safety data from nonclinical studies and clinical trials (phases 1, 2A, and 3) with fidaxomicin. In nonclinical studies, fidaxomicin was administered orally at approximately 1 g/kg/d to dogs for up to 3 months with no significant target-organ toxicities observed. A total of 728 adults have received oral fidaxomicin in clinical trials to date: 116 healthy volunteers and 612 patients with C. difficile infection. In phase 3 clinical trials, fidaxomicin was well tolerated, with a safety profile comparable with oral vancomycin. There were no differences in the incidence of death or serious adverse events between the 2 drugs. Fidaxomicin appears to be well tolerated. Continued monitoring of adverse events in the postmarketing setting will provide additional information about the full safety profile of fidaxomicin.

Detection, treatment, and prevention of Clostridium difficile infection

Clostridium difficile is a gram-positive anaerobic bacillus responsible for approximately 1 of 5 cases of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. C difficile infection (CDI) is defined by at least 3 unformed stools in a 24-hour period and stool, endoscopic, or histopathologic test results that indicate the presence of this bacteria. The history of CDI research can be divided into early (before 2000) and modern eras (after 2000). C difficile was first described in 1935, and the characteristics and causes of CDI as well as therapies were identified during the early era of research. During the modern era, CDI has become a more common, aggressive nosocomial infection. Our understanding of the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of CDI has increased at a rapid pace. We review features of CDI diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Advances in antibiotic measurement

Antibiotics are most commonly prescribed drugs in clinical practice. Therapeutic drug monitoring of these medications is typically associated with a select group of antibiotics such as aminoglycosides and vancomycin. Outside this group, other antibiotics such as chloramphenicol and antituberculosis agents may also require monitoring. Due to their wide therapeutic index, other classes of antibiotics such as penicillins, cephalosporin, sulfonamides, quinolones, and macrolides do not generally require routine therapeutic drug monitoring. Determination of serum or plasma concentration of these drugs, however, may be beneficial in those patients with compromised renal function. As can be expected, immunoassays for routine monitoring of aminoglycosides and vancomycin have been developed and are widely commercially available. Tests for other antibiotics, due to their infrequent use and low clinical application, are generally limited to in-house developed methods.

Systemic absorption of oral vancomycin in a peripheral blood stem cell transplant patient with severe graft-versus-host disease of the gastrointestinal tract

Oral vancomycin is often considered the drug of choice for severe Clostridium difficile-associated disease due to both its efficacy and pharmacokinetics. The potential for absorption is not well described in patients with impaired gastrointestinal (GI) mucosa. We describe a case of significant and potentially toxic absorption of oral vancomycin in a peripheral blood stem cell transplant patient with grade IV graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) of the GI tract. In patients with GI GVHD clinicians need to be aware of the potential for oral absorption and, in select cases, monitoring of levels may be appropriate.

An elderly woman with 'Red Man Syndrome' in association with oral vancomycin therapy: a case report

Introduction

'Red Man Syndrome' is a recognized adverse reaction to intravenous vancomycin therapy. This case concerns an elderly woman who developed a 'Red Man Syndrome' reaction whilst on oral vancomycin therapy for Clostridium difficile (C difficile) diarrhoea. Isolated case reports exist recording this reaction in association with oral vancomycin therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel conditions or impaired renal function, of which this patient had both.

Case Presentation

An 82 year old Caucasian woman who developed C. difficile diarrhoea after co-amoxiclav therapy for a urinary tract infection. She was treated with oral vancomycin therapy during which she developed a widespread erythematous rash in keeping with that of 'Red Man Syndrome'. This rash resolved on stopping the oral vancomycin.

Conclusion

This case is important in the light of the increasing use of oral vancomycin to treat C. difficile diarrhoea, a rising problem in the UK. It also calls us to review our understanding of the mechanism of the 'Red Man Syndrome' reaction. It is possible that significant absorption of orally administered vancomycin occurs in the presence of an inflammatory bowel condition.