Vancomycin

Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibioticum. It inhibits the formation of the peptidoglycan polymers of the bacterial cell wall. Unlike penicillins that act primarily to prevent the crosslinking of peptidoglycans that give the cell its strength, vancomycin prevents the transfer and addition of the muramylpentapeptide building blocks that form the peptidoglycan molecule itself. Vancomycin is often used in combination with cefotaxime or carbenicillin to obtain a synergism in antimicrobial activity against bacteria. Especially used for Agro-bacterium species with a high ß-lactamase -pro-duction.