What are the contraindications for Vancomycin (vancomycin hydrochloride)?

There are no official guidelines to assist in answering this question. I will search for relevant research papers instead.

From the FDA Drug Label

• Contraindications: The FDA drug label states that vancomycin hydrochloride for injection is contraindicated in patients with: + Known hypersensitivity to this antibiotic 1
• No other direct contraindications are mentioned in the provided drug labels.

From the Research

Contraindications for Vancomycin

The following are contraindications for vancomycin:

• Hypersensitivity to vancomycin 2, 3
• Renal impairment or nephrotoxicity, as vancomycin can cause nephrotoxicity, especially at higher doses or with prolonged therapy 2, 4, 3, 5
• Ototoxicity, as vancomycin can cause hearing loss, especially in patients with renal impairment 2, 3, 5
• Red man syndrome, a hypersensitivity reaction that can occur with vancomycin administration 2, 3
• Neutropenia, as vancomycin can cause bone marrow suppression 2
• Interstitial nephritis, as vancomycin can cause inflammation of the kidneys 2

Special Considerations

• Vancomycin should be used with caution in patients with:
  • Hepatic dysfunction, as vancomycin can cause liver damage 5
  • Hypertension or diabetes, as these conditions can increase the risk of side effects 5
  • Prolonged therapy, as this can increase the risk of nephrotoxicity and other side effects 2, 4, 3, 5
• Vancomycin should not be used alone in enterococcal endocarditis, as it is not effective against these organisms 6