Teicoplanin is a pharmacological agent that belongs to the group of antibiotics. For this reason, the drug is primarily used in the treatment of infections caused by various types of bacteria. Especially against so-called gram-positive germs, the substance teicoplanin shows high efficacy.
What is teicoplanin?
Teicoplanin is a pharmacological agent that belongs to the group of antibiotics. The drug teicoplanin is considered to belong to the pharmacological category of antibiotics. From the chemical point of view, this antibiotic is a representative of the group of glycopeptides. In order to produce the basis for medical use, the active substance teicoplanin is isolated in the first step from a special type of bacteria. This strain of bacteria is Actinoplanes teichomyceticus. In principle, antibiotics from the glycopeptide group are reserve antibiotics. They are suitable only for the treatment of infectious diseases caused by gram-positive bacteria. Such drugs are only administered when other drugs are no longer effective, for example due to resistance. The antibiotic teicoplanin is only used in a single case as a first-line agent and not as a reserve antibiotic. If pseudomembranous colitis is present that is associated with other antibiotics, the glycopeptide teicoplanin should be administered immediately. Basically, two types of the drug exist: teicoplanin and vancomycin.
Pharmacologic action
Teicoplanin is characterized primarily by its bactericidal, or bacteria-killing, action. To some extent, the substance also exhibits bacteriostatic effects when used as part of therapy for anaerobic and aerobic germs. The drug is also effective against anaerobic gram-positive pathogens. The effect of the drug is due to the fact that it inhibits the synthesis of the cell walls of bacteria. For this reason, teicoplanin impairs the multiplication of the pathogens. This effect is typical for antibiotics from the group of glycopeptides, as all representatives of this category inhibit the formation of bacterial cell walls in gram-positive germs. For this reason, the use of the active substance teicoplanin is recommended in cases where infections caused by bacteria are present. A prerequisite for the efficacy of the pharmacological substance is that the germs show sensitivity to the active substance. Teicoplanin is virtually unabsorbed, which is why it is administered parenterally in the majority of cases. The only special case here is the treatment of pseudomembranous colitis. Here, the drug teicoplanin is administered orally.
Medical application and use
Teicoplanin is used for a variety of bacterial infections for which other antibiotics are no longer effective. For example, it is used for resistant Gram-positive bacteria or when affected patients have an allergy to penicillin or cephalosporin. The drug is also frequently prescribed for the treatment of pseudomembranous colitis. In addition, teicoplanin is also suitable for the treatment of valvular inflammation caused by enterococci or staphylococci. The drug is also effective in bone marrow infections. In addition, use of the drug is possible in desired intestinal sterilization when patients are taking immunosuppressive drugs. The dosage of the drug Teicoplanin is carried out according to the professional information. In the majority of cases, the drug is injected either intravenously or intramuscularly. To treat a special form of enterocolitis, teicoplanin is administered perorally. When taken orally, the drug teicoplanin acts directly in the intestine, and absorption does not occur. In this case, it is usually taken in the form of tablets. In parenteral administration of the drug, infusions are usually used. In principle, the scope of application of the drug teicoplanin extends to various bacterial infections caused by sensitive gram-positive germs. Teicoplanin also plays a special role as a replacement drug when the patients concerned suffer from a cephalosporin or penicillin allergy.Teicoplanin is also used to treat multi-resistant MRSA and enterococci. Here, however, it is only used as a reserve drug. The drug is also effective in the treatment of pseudomembranous colitis. This is a disease that can result from treatment with antibiotics. This is because the balance of the intestinal flora is often impaired, so that bacteria of the strain Clostridium difficile spread strongly. As a result, mucosal inflammation in the large and small intestines is possible. Glycopeptides are particularly large molecules and are therefore unable to pass from the intestine into the blood. For this reason, they only act locally in the intestine, so the risk of side effects is also reduced.
Risks and side effects
During therapy with the drug teicoplanin, undesirable side effects are possible. For example, some patients experience rashes on the skin, itching, myalgias, or fever. It is possible that during treatment with glycopeptides, both the inner ear and the kidneys may be damaged. For this reason, during therapy with teicoplanin, it is imperative that hearing function as well as kidney performance be continuously monitored by the treating physician. In addition, a transiently elevated concentration of liver enzymes is sometimes seen.
