Vancomycin: new perspectives on an old drug.

The use of vancomycin continues to be prevalent in all clinical settings. However, many questions persist about infusion techniques. According to the Infusion Nursing Standards of Practice, peripheral catheters are not the best choice for infusing this drug because of its pH. The key to reducing risk of peripheral phlebitis and extravasation injury is choosing a more appropriate vascular access device. Many healthcare providers correlate systemic side effects with the infusion rate and concentration, although many reports cannot support this correlation. New technologies of vascular access and infusion controlling devices are changing old, established practices. This update provides an examination of the current literature on all aspects of infusing vancomycin and monitoring patients.