Téicoplanine
antibiotic
Third-party optionBy the Layer Nutrition editorial team · How the atlas classifies the 664 molecules
What this medicine is for
Teicoplanin is a medicine in the “antibiotic” category. Antibiotics treat infections caused by bacteria. They are taken as a course, over a set period, to the end of the prescription.
Specifically, for Teicoplanin: Treats a bacterial infection. Its use is generally limited in time, adjusted to the situation.
Under which brands it is found
Teicoplanin is found in around 4 presentations listed in France. It is available under various brand names and as generics.
- Targocid
- Teicoplanine Altan
- Teicoplanine Hikma
- Teicoplanine Viatris
Generics and the original brand are equivalent for the active substance; only the appearance, the name or the excipients may differ.
On the plate: gut flora and vitamin K
Teicoplanin can weigh on digestive comfort: diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting are among its common effects. The gut flora, for its part, contributes to the supply of vitamin K: it turns the plant form into vitamin K2. Food supports both of these sides, meal after meal.
Fermented foods, such as plain yoghurt, provide live cultures. The fibre in oats, barley and legumes (lentils, beans, chickpeas) feeds the bacteria of the colon. A menu rich in plants thus keeps the work of the flora going.
Vitamin K1 is concentrated in leafy green vegetables: spinach, kale, broccoli. The gut flora then converts it into vitamin K2. Putting them on the menu regularly maintains this supply, alongside your treatment.
How teicoplanin works
Teicoplanin belongs to the glycopeptide family, antibiotics reserved for serious infections. To protect itself, a bacterium surrounds itself with a rigid wall, the peptidoglycan, which it assembles continuously. Teicoplanin binds to the D-alanyl-D-alanine residues of the precursors of this wall and prevents their assembly. Deprived of a solid wall, the bacterium can no longer divide or resist, and it dies.
This attachment point differs from that of the beta-lactams, which include the penicillins. Teicoplanin therefore acts through a different route, which makes it useful when those antibiotics are no longer enough. Its action targets Gram-positive bacteria specifically, those whose thick wall is the target of this mechanism.
Why it is prescribed
Teicoplanin treats serious infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria. By the injectable route, it covers infections of the bones and joints, endocarditis (infection of the heart valves), pneumonia, and infections of the skin and soft tissues. These are serious situations, often managed in hospital.
By the oral route, its use is limited to a single indication: Clostridium difficile colitis, an infection of the colon. The choice of route therefore depends on the infection targeted. This split explains why the same molecule is given sometimes in an infusion, sometimes by mouth.
How it is administered
For an infection in the blood or the organs, teicoplanin is given by the intravenous or intramuscular route, never by mouth. Taken orally, it is not absorbed by the digestive tract and does not pass into the blood. A healthcare professional carries out the injection or infusion. The question of when to take it in relation to meals therefore does not arise for the injectable form.
Its elimination half-life is very long, from 100 to 170 hours: the medicine stays active for several days in the body. Repeated loading doses are given first to reach an effective concentration quickly, then a single maintenance dose per day. The regularity of this schedule determines the effectiveness of the treatment. It is never stopped on one's own initiative, even if the infection appears to be clearing.
The common effects to know about
Some effects affect at least one person in a hundred. These include a drop in platelets (thrombocytopenia), a rise in one type of white blood cell (eosinophilia), and an increase in liver transaminases, often transient. On the digestive side, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting are possible. To these are added skin rash, dizziness, headache, pain, fever, and inflammation of the vein at the injection site (phlebitis).
Other effects are uncommon, that is, present in fewer than one person in a hundred. These are acute kidney failure, seizures, and damage to hearing and balance (ototoxicity). These signs justify medical monitoring during treatment.
The rare but serious reactions
More rarely, in fewer than one person in a thousand, there may occur a rise in blood creatinine, a bronchospasm, an anaphylactic reaction, or red man syndrome. The latter combines itching, hives, redness, angioedema, a faster heartbeat, a drop in blood pressure and breathing difficulty. These reactions call for immediate management.
Even more rarely, serious skin reactions have been described: DRESS syndrome, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. They affect the skin and the general condition. Any widespread skin change during treatment should raise the alarm and lead to seeking care without delay.
Interactions and monitoring
Teicoplanin is used with caution when it is combined with medicines toxic to the kidney or to the ear: aminoglycosides, amphotericin B, ciclosporin, cisplatin, colistin, furosemide, etacrynic acid. The accumulation of these toxicities increases the risk of kidney or hearing damage. It must never be mixed in the same solution as an aminoglycoside.
Biological monitoring frames the treatment. It includes measuring trough concentrations in the blood once steady state is reached, a regular full blood count, and monitoring of kidney and liver function. In the case of co-treatment toxic to the ear, a hearing check is added to this follow-up.
Sources
Related molecules
To explore in the « Anti-infectives » family and its neighbours.
See the whole « Anti-infectives » family · Back to the atlas
Supplements to consider
Beyond the plate, a single isolated nutrient can be worth discussing, to confirm with your doctor or pharmacist. Here is which one and in which form.
Probiotics
Probiotics are live micro-organisms, mainly lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. The CFU count and the number of strains are among the selection criteria; gastro-resistant capsules protect the bacteria from stomach acidity.
Preferred form gastro-resistant capsules, several strains, CFU count stated
Frequently asked questions
What is teicoplanin (Targocid) and what is it used for?
Teicoplanin is an antibiotic in the glycopeptide family, active against Gram-positive bacteria such as staphylococci, including certain resistant strains. It is used for severe infections and, taken by mouth, for some cases of Clostridioides difficile colitis. The full list of indications is set out in the package leaflet; your doctor or pharmacist remains the reference for your situation.
What are the side effects of teicoplanin?
The package leaflet notes in particular injection-site reactions, skin rashes, fever, allergic reactions and, more rarely, effects on kidney function, hearing or blood cell counts. This list is not exhaustive: refer to the package leaflet and report any unusual symptom to your doctor or pharmacist.
How is teicoplanin given?
It is most often given by intravenous or intramuscular injection, in a care setting, and sometimes by mouth for an intestinal Clostridioides difficile infection. The regimen and duration are set by the prescriber: do not change anything without medical advice and follow the package leaflet as well as the instructions from your doctor or pharmacist.
Teicoplanin vs vancomycin: what is the difference?
Both are glycopeptide antibiotics with a similar spectrum, but they differ in their route of administration, their duration of action and their tolerability profile. The choice between the two is a medical decision. To understand why one or the other was prescribed for you, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
What precautions and drug interactions apply to teicoplanin?
The package leaflet flags particular caution when it is combined with other medicines that can affect the kidneys or hearing, which is why laboratory monitoring is warranted. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the treatments you are currently taking, and consult the package leaflet for the full list of interactions and precautions.
Can an antibiotic like teicoplanin disrupt gut flora, and what to consider nutritionally?
Antibiotics alter the balance of the gut microbiota, which can lead to digestive problems, in particular antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. Studies, including Cochrane reviews, link taking probiotics to a reduced risk of this. From a nutritional standpoint, the active ingredient to consider is a probiotic based on documented strains such as Saccharomyces boulardii or Lactobacillus rhamnosus, in the form of freeze-dried ferments; this support should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
Ces réponses portent sur le volet nutritionnel. Pour toute question sur votre médicament, la notice et votre médecin ou pharmacien font foi.