Rifampin (Rifadin)

Class of antibiotic > rifamycin – inhibits RNA polymerase in bacteria. Dose: 300mg IV twice per day or 600mg IV once per day in 500ml Normal Saline. Administration: This medication has a very short half-life once mixed, so we attach the vial of medication via a Vial mate or Add-Ease device. The Vial mate or … Continue Reading →

Vancomycin (Vancocin)

Class of antibiotic > glycopeptide – inhibits cell wall synthesis in gram-positive bacteria. Dose: variable – dependent on patient weight, kidney function, etc.  Typically given one to two times per day, diluted in 250-500ml of Normal Saline depending on dose.  Weekly labs draws for kidney function and peak  and trough levels of the antibiotic are … Continue Reading →

Tigecycline (Tygacil)

Class of antibiotic > glyclycline (although it is in its own class, it is similar in structure to tetracyclines. Technically it is a derivative of minocycline) – Inhibits protein synthesis of bacterial cell walls (prokaryotic translation) by binding to the 30s subunits of mRNA.  Good activity against susceptible gram-negative, gram-positive, and anaerobes including MRSA. Dose: … Continue Reading →

Clindamycin (Cleocin)

Class of antibiotic > lincosamide – Inhibits protein synthesis (ribosomal translocation) by binding to the 50s subunit of mRNA in bacterial cells. Dose: 600-900mg IV every eight to 12 hours, diluted in 50-100ml of Normal Saline. Administration: Methods of administration include elastomeric pumps (“ homeballs”)  and gravity bags.

Moxifloxacin (Avelox)

Class of antibiotic > fluoroquinolone –  inhibits protein synthesis by interfering with topoisomerase. Dose: 400mg IV once per day. Administration: Premixed IV bags for gravity drip

Levofloxacin (Levaquin)

Class of Antibiotic > fluoroquinolone –  inhibits protein synthesis by interfering with topoisomerase. Dose: 500mg IV once per day, typically comes in pre-mix bags of 100ml. Administration: Gravity Drip

Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)

Class of antibiotic > fluoroquinolone –  inhibits protein synthesis by interfering with topoisomerase. Dose:  400mg IV twice per day.  Typically comes in pre-mix bags of 200ml. Administration: Gravity drip.

Azithromycin (Zithromax)

Class of antibiotic > macrolide – inhibits protein synthesis by binding to the 50s subunit of mRNA in bacterial cells. Dose: 500mg IV once per day, diluted in 250ml of Normal Saline. Administration:  With a medium-short half-life when mixed, the options for this drug include the Vial Mate/Add-Ease system, administered via gravity, but if the … Continue Reading →

Doxycycline (Vibramycin, Doxychel)

Class of antibiotic > Tetracycline – inhibits protein synthesis by binding to the 30s subunit of mRNA in bacterial cells. Useful against susceptible gram-negative, gram-positive, protozoal, and rickettsial organisms. Dose: 100-400mg IV once per day, diluted in 100-400ml of Normal Saline. Administration: Methods of administration include elastomeric pumps (“homeballs) and gravity bags, although with a … Continue Reading →

Ampicillin-sulbactam (Unasyn)

Class of antibiotic > beta-lactam – inhibits transpeptidase which is a large part of bacterial wall synthesis.  This antibiotic contains sulbactam which is a potent inhibitor of beta-lactamase (an enzyme that can deactivate ampicillin.) This grants the antibiotic more activity versus resistant bacteria. Dose: 1.5-3gm IV every six to eight hours. Administration: This medication has … Continue Reading →