Vancomycin is an antibiotic that is especially good at killing Gram-positive bacteria like Staphyloccocus (including MRSA) and Clostridium difficile.

Vancomycin has been used since 1954 and is still listed as one of our critically important medicines by the World Health Organisation.

The name vancomycin was derived from the word “vanquish” (defeat, overcome, win) as the compound was such a powerful agent against different bacteria, including infections that are difficult to treat.

Worringly, there is a stark increase in bacterial strains that have become resistant to this antibiotic, most prominently vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE).