Last update April 18, 2025
Compatible
We do not have alternatives for Vancomycin since it is relatively safe.
Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.
Your contribution is essential for this service to continue to exist. We need the generosity of people like you who believe in the benefits of breastfeeding.
Thank you for helping to protect and promote breastfeeding.
Vancomycin in other languages or writings:
Vancomycin belongs to these groups or families:
Main tradenames from several countries containing Vancomycin in its composition:
Write us at elactancia.org@gmail.com
e-lactancia is a resource recommended by Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine - 2012 of United States of America
Would you like to recommend the use of e-lactancia? Write to us at corporate mail of APILAM
Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibacterial used intravenously every 6-12 hours in the treatment and prophylaxis of severe staphylococcal infections, especially methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Orally, it is used in the treatment of staphylococcal enterocolitis and antibiotic-associated colitis, including pseudomembranous colitis with Clostridium difficile overgrowth.
Its high molecular weight and large volume of distribution may explain why it is excreted in breast milk in a clinically insignificant amount (Reyes 1989), much lower than the dose used for newborn and infant infections.
In addition, its very low oral bioavailability, with no or negligible intestinal absorption (Rao 2011), makes it difficult to pass into the infant's plasma from ingested breast milk, except in premature infants and the immediate neonatal period, where there may be greater intestinal permeability.
Several medical societies and expert authors consider this medication safe for use during breastfeeding, which can be used in case of severe mastitis due to MRSA. (Hale, LactMed, van Wattum 2019, Amir 2014 and 2011, Mitrano 2009, Mahadevan 2006)