What is "teicoplanin"

n. (context pharmaceutical drug English) Any of several glycopeptide antibiotics used against Gram-positive bacteria

Teicoplanin is an antibiotic used in the prophylaxis and treatment of serious infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. It is a semisynthetic glycopeptide antibiotic with a spectrum of activity similar to vancomycin. Its mechanism of action is to inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis.

Teicoplanin is marketed by Sanofi-Aventis under the trade name Targocid. Other trade names include Ticosin marketed by Cipla(India).

Oral teicoplanin has been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of pseudomembranous colitis and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea, with comparable efficacy with vancomycin.

Its strength is considered to be due to the length of the hydrocarbon chain.