Teicoplanin inpatient dosing guidelines (for patients aged ≥16 years)

Type of infections and doses

Teicoplanin dose depends on the type of infection being treated. For uncomplicated line infections (without sepsis, bacteraemia or significant cellulitis) or moderate skin and soft tissue infection, lower doses are used (see lower dosing regimen for teicoplanin below).

Higher loading and maintenance doses are used to treat:

  • Bone and joint infection
  • Severe skin and soft tissue infection
  • Patients with sepsis or bacteraemia

See higher dosing regimen for teicoplanin below for details. 

Lower dosing regimen for teicoplanin

For uncomplicated line infections without sepsis or bacteraemia or significant cellulitis or moderate skin and soft tissue infection

Step 1: Calculate loading dose

Teicoplanin IV 6mg/kg (based on actual body weight), maximum 400mg every 12 hours for 3 doses

Step 2: Calculate maintenance dose

  • Start the maintenance dose 24, 48, 72 hours after the last loading dose depending on dosing interval in table 1 below
  • Do not use eGFR
  • If creatinine is known - use the creatinine clearance (CrCl) calculator in the GGC Medicines App or NHSGGC StaffNet / Clinical Info section or the Cockcroft Gault equation here to calculate it.
  • Use actual body weight
  • Round each dose to the nearest 100mg
  • Administer dose as an IV infusion over 30 minutes (see Adult Intravenous Medicines Monograph on NHSGGC StaffNet / Clinical Info section for full details).

Table 1: Low dose teicoplanin regimen - maintenance dose

CrCl (ml/minute) Teicoplanin IV low dose regimen
>80 6mg/kg (max 600mg) once daily
30–80 6mg/mg (max 600mg) every 48 hours or 3mg/kg once daily
<30 6mg/kg (max 600mg) every 72 hours or 2mg/kg once daily

Step 3: Teicoplanin levels and monitoring

Trough (pre-dose) level: 15–20mg/L - low dose regimen
  • Take first level >72 hours after the last loading dose
  • Measure teicoplanin trough level once weekly
  • Continue with teicoplanin dosing until result is available (may take 3-5 days)
  • Seek advice from pharmacy if:
    • Renal function is deteriorating
    • Trough level is outwith the recommended range of 15-20mg/L.

Higher dosing regimen for teicoplanin

For bone and joint infection, severe skin and soft tissue infection, patients with sepsis or bacteraemia.

Step 1: Loading dose

Teicoplanin IV 12mg/kg (based on actual body weight), maximum 800mg every 12 hours for 4 doses

Step 2: Calculate maintenance dose

  • Start the maintenance dose 24, 48 or 72 hours after the last loading dose depending on the dosage interval in table 2 below.
  • Do not use eGFR
  • If creatinine is known - use the creatinine clearance (CrCl) calculator in the GGC Medicines App or NHSGGC StaffNet / Clinical Info section or the Cockcroft Gault equation here to calculate it.
  • Use actual body weight
  • Round each dose to the nearest 100mg
  • Administer dose as an IV infusion over 30 minutes (see Adult Intravenous Medicines Monograph on NHSGGC StaffNet / Clinical Info section for full details.

Table 2: High dose teicoplanin regimen - maintenance dose

CrCl (ml/minute) Teicoplanin IV high dose regimen
>80 12mg/kg (max 1000mg) once daily
30–80 12mg/mg (max 1000mg) every 48 hours or 6mg/kg once daily
<30 12mg/kg (max 1000mg) every 72 hours or 4mg/kg once daily

Step 3: Teicoplanin levels and monitoring

Trough (pre-dose) level: 20–30mg/L - high dose regimen
  • Take first level >72 hours after the last loading dose
  • Measure teicoplanin trough level once weekly
  • Continue with teicoplanin dosing until result is available (may take 3-5 days)
  • Seek advice from pharmacy if:
    • Renal function is deteriorating
    • Trough level is outwith the recommended range of 20-30mg/L.

Last reviewed February 2018




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