indication

For the treatment of bacterial infections caused by susceptible microorganisms.

pharmacology

Teicoplanin is an antibiotic used in the prophylaxis and treatment of serious infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. It is a glycopeptide antiobiotic extracted from Actinoplanes teichomyceticus, with a similar spectrum of activity to vancomycin. Its mechanism of action is to inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis. Oral teicoplanin has been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of pseudomembranous colitis and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea, with comparable efficacy to vancomycin.

mechanism of action

Teicoplanin inhibits peptidoglycan polymerization, resulting in inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis and cell death.

biotransformation

Two metabolites (metabolites 1 and 2; 2 to 3% of total teicoplanin) have been isolated after intravenous administration of radiolabeled teicoplanin. After purification, their structures were found to be new teicoplanin-like molecules, bearing 8-hydroxydecanoic and 9-hydroxydecanoic acyl moieties. This metabolic transformation is likely due to hydroxylation in the omega-2 and omega-1 positions for metabolites 1 and 2, respectively, of the C-10 linear side chain of component A2-3. This might explain the low extent of metabolism of teicoplanin if we consider that only component A2-3 has a linear chain that is susceptible to such oxidation.

absorption

Teicoplanin is poorly absorbed after oral administration but is 90% bioavailable when administered intramuscularly.

half life

70-100 hours