A glycopeptide antibiotic
Teicoplanin
A glycopeptide antibiotic given by injection to treat serious infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, including MRSA.
What is Teicoplanin?
Teicoplanin is a glycopeptide antibiotic given by injection or infusion to treat serious infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, including MRSA. It is closely related to vancomycin but can often be given once a day and through a muscle as well as a vein, which makes it useful for treatment at home. It needs blood-level and kidney monitoring because it can affect the kidneys and hearing.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Teicoplanin — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.
What it is
Teicoplanin is a glycopeptide antibiotic used in hospital for serious infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). It works on infections such as those affecting the bones and joints, heart valves, skin and bloodstream when these organisms are involved or suspected. It is closely related to vancomycin but is often given once daily, which makes it convenient for continued antibiotic treatment at home (OPAT).
How it works
Teicoplanin attaches to the building blocks bacteria use to make their cell wall, stopping the wall from being assembled properly. Without an intact cell wall the bacteria cannot survive and are killed. It only acts on Gram-positive bacteria, because the structure it targets is exposed in these organisms but shielded in Gram-negative ones.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Originally developed by Gruppo Lepetit (later part of Sanofi); now available as a generic medicine in the UK..
A glycopeptide derived from a soil micro-organism, introduced in Europe in the 1980s as an alternative to vancomycin for serious Gram-positive infections.
Practical use
How to take Teicoplanin
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- It is given by a doctor, nurse or pharmacist into a vein or muscle, not by mouth.
- A loading period of more frequent doses is usually used first, then a regular maintenance schedule, often once a day.
- Treatment may be continued at home through an outpatient antibiotic (OPAT) service once you are stable.
- Complete the full planned course even if you feel better, to clear the infection fully.
- Attend all appointments for blood tests, as levels and kidney function guide your treatment.
- Report ringing in the ears, hearing or balance changes, rash or swelling to your team without delay.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Teicoplanin
Advantages
- Active against difficult Gram-positive infections, including MRSA.
- Often given just once a day, and can be given into a muscle, which suits treatment at home.
- Generally better tolerated at the infusion site than vancomycin, with less need for slow infusions.
Disadvantages
- Can affect the kidneys and, less commonly, hearing and balance, so monitoring is needed.
- Must be given by injection by a healthcare professional, not taken as a tablet.
- Blood-level checks are often required to balance effectiveness against the risk of side effects.
Practical use
Good to know
Teicoplanin is given by a healthcare team into a vein or muscle, often starting in hospital and sometimes continued at home through an outpatient antibiotic (OPAT) service. Blood levels are usually checked to make sure there is enough antibiotic to clear the infection, and kidney function and blood counts are monitored during treatment. Tell your team straight away about any new ringing in the ears, hearing changes, dizziness, rash or reduced urine output.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- People who have had a serious allergic reaction to teicoplanin.
- People with a known sensitivity to vancomycin should be treated with caution, as reactions can overlap.
- People with kidney problems or hearing loss need careful monitoring and may need an adjusted approach.
Monitoring
- Blood levels of teicoplanin in serious or deep-seated infections.
- Kidney function before and during treatment.
- Full blood count and, where needed, hearing if treatment is prolonged.
Side effects
- Rash, itching or redness.
- Fever or chills, particularly during or after an infusion.
- Effects on the kidneys, shown by blood tests.
- Ringing in the ears, hearing changes or dizziness (less common).
- Changes in blood counts, such as a fall in white cells or platelets.
Key interactions
- Other medicines that can harm the kidneys, such as some other antibiotics and certain water tablets.
- Other medicines that can affect hearing and balance, including aminoglycoside antibiotics.
- Ciclosporin and similar medicines, which may add to kidney effects.
Available as: Injection/infusion (given into a vein or muscle).
Answers
Teicoplanin: frequently asked questions
Why is teicoplanin given by injection rather than as a tablet?
It is not absorbed well from the gut, so to treat infections in the body it has to be given directly into a vein or muscle by a healthcare professional.
Can I have teicoplanin at home?
Often yes. Because it can be given once a day, many people continue treatment at home through an outpatient antibiotic (OPAT) service after starting in hospital.
How is teicoplanin different from vancomycin?
Both are glycopeptides that work in a similar way against Gram-positive bacteria. Teicoplanin can usually be given once daily and into a muscle, and is often easier on the infusion site.
Will it affect my hearing?
Hearing or balance problems are uncommon but possible, especially with prolonged treatment or alongside other medicines that affect the ears. Report any ringing in the ears or hearing change to your team.
Why do I need blood tests during treatment?
Blood tests check that there is enough antibiotic to clear the infection and that your kidneys and blood counts are not being affected.
The wider class
About Glycopeptide antibiotics
Teicoplanin belongs to the glycopeptide antibiotics class. For how the class as a whole works, its shared safety principles and monitoring, see the full guide.
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Authoritative sources
- BNF
- NICE CKS
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