Comparative safety of teicoplanin and vancomycin

Teicoplanin have different safety profiles which can affect choice. Nephrotoxicity is significantly less likely to occur during treatment with teicoplanin than vancomycin when an aminoglycoside is being given concurrently. ‘Red man’ syndrome is a troublesome effect of vancomycin infusion which is extremely uncommon with teicoplanin use. Rash and fever can be dose-related phenomena but patients reacting to one glycopeptide may not react to both. Although thrombocytopenia is more frequent with teicoplanin, it is reversible and seldom seen at standard doses.