231) A 62 year old woman was admitted to the hospital two days ago for complicated acute pyelonephritis. She was initially started on piperacillin-tazobactam. On day 2 of hospital stay, urinary cultures are positive for ampicillin resistant enterococci. The patient is started on Vancomycin . While receiving her first dose of vancomycin, she develops flushing, redness and itching over her upper body. On physical examination, her temperature is 101F, HR 120/min and blood pressure is 120/70 mm hg. There is erythema on her chest. An intravenous cannula is in place on her left arm. There is no erythema or tenderness at the cannula site. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?
A) Diphenhydramine
B) Stop Vancomycin and switch to Linezolid
C) Change the IV cannula
D) Methylprednisolone
E) Stop Vancomycin and restart at slower rate
Filed under: USMLE Test Prep | Tagged: Archer Infectious Diseases, USMLE STEP 3 INFECTIOUS DISEASES |
Archer USMLE Step 3 Blog 
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I think is A; Red man syndrome you give a to stop symptom of ithy.. and you do E later very confusing question Thanks Dr Red you are the best
a or b….
very good one…
A…
The patient alreday has the reaction, so treate it with Diphenhydramine. To prevent it Vancomycin must be administered in a dilute solution slowly, over at least 60 minutes (maximum rate of 10 mg/minute for doses >500 mg)
E) Stop Vancomycin and restart at slower rate
First STOP vancomycin and then give diphenhydramine….and once the flushing, redness and itching resolve restart Vancomycin at a slower rate.
E then A.. first stop vanco
E
Red man syndrom
e, normal reaction of vanco, with slowing the rate many time is solve the problem
Vancomycin
can cause two types of hypersensitivity reactions,
the red man syndrome and anaphylaxis.
Red man syndrome has often been associated with rapid infusion of
the first dose of the drug and
was initially attributed to impurities found in vancomycin preparations.
Even after improvement in vancomycin’s purity, however, reports of the syndrome persist.
Other antibiotics (e.g. ciprofloxacin, amphotericinB, rifampicin and teicoplanin) or other drugs that stimulate histamine release
can result in red man syndrome.
Discontinuation of the vancomycin infusion
and administration of diphenhydramine
can abort most of the reactions.
Slow intravenous administration of vancomycin
should minimize the risk of infusion-related adverse effects.
E
yeb, E
e:stop vancomycin and restart at slower rate
E:)