Vancomycin (Vancocin) is a glycopeptide antibiotic primarily used to treat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile (“C.diff”) colitis with the intravenous and oral forms, respectively. In general, it’s used for “gram positive coverage” (Enterococcus, Staph, etc.). Remember that vancomycin is NOT appropriate therapy for methicillin SENSITIVE Staph (consider oxacillin…
Zerbaxa (ceftolozane-tazobactam) is a potent intravenous antibiotic used for gram-negative intraabdominal and urinary tract infections resistant to more traditional antibiotics. It is active against P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and various other gram negative bugs like species of Proteus, Citrobacter, Serratia, and Salmonella.
Ceftaroline (Teflaro) is a fifth generation intravenous cephalosporin used to treat community acquired pneumonia (CAP) and acute skin infections. Similar to later generation cephalosporins, ceftaroline retains antimicrobial activity against many common gram negative bacteria with two important exceptions – Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas.