Oral Administration of Vancomycin in the Treatment of Staphylococcal Enterocolitis

Abstract

VANCOMYCIN is a bactericidal antibiotic that has been highly effective in the treatment of infections caused by staphylococci resistant to penicillin G.1 , 2 Difficulties associated with parenteral administration of this drug, notably phlebitis, as well as the more recent introduction of penicillinase-resistant semisynthetic penicillins have led to a decline in its use. However, orally administered vancomycin may be the drug of choice in one form of severe staphylococcal disease, enterocolitis. The following cases illustrate its use in this situation.Case ReportsW.E. (K.C.H. 427367), a 69-year-old man with Laennec's cirrhosis, had fever and diarrhea while receiving neomycin by mouth for the . . .