Staphylococci teicoplanin

Teicoplanin is a naturally occurring complex of five closely related tetracyclic molecules. Its mode of action and spectrum of activity are essentially similar to vancomycin, although it might be less active a inst some strains of coagulase-negative staphylococci. Teicoplanin can be administered by intramuscular injection. 

Vancomycin and teicoplanin display excellent activity against staphylococci and streptococci, but because of the wide availability of equally effective and less toxic drugs, they are second-line drugs in the treatment of most infections. As antistaphylococcal agents they are less effective than 3-lactam cephalosporin antibiotics, such as nafciUin and cefazoUn. They have attained much wider use in recent years as a consequence of the emergence of methicUlin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infections, in particular the growing importance of Staphylococcus epidermidis infections associated with the use of intravascular catheters and in patients with peritonitis who are on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. 

Vogt. K., Rauhut, A.. Trautmann, M., and Hahn, H., Comparison of fosfomycin and teicoplanin in serum bactericidal activity against Staphylococci, Arzneim. Forsch., 45, 894, 1995. 

Resistance can emerge in susceptible staphylococci during therapy. The Van A phenotype of vancomycin resistance also confers resistance to teicoplanin by altering the cell-wall target so that the glycopeptide does not bind. Strains of enterococci with Van B resistance often remain susceptible to teicoplanin. 

Goldstein F, Coutrot A, Seiffet A, Acar JF. Percentages distributions of teicoplanin- and vancomycin-resistant strains among coagulase-negative staphylococci. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 1990 34 899-900. 

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