Vancomycin is an antibiotic. Oral (taken by mouth) vancomycin fights bacteria in the intestines.
Vancomycin is used to treat an infection of the intestines caused by Clostridium difficile, which can cause watery or bloody diarrhea. This medicine is also used to treat staph infections that can cause inflammation of the colon and small intestines.
Oral vancomycin works only in the intestines and is not normally absorbed into the body. vancomycin will not treat other types of infection. An injectable form of this mediicne is available to treat serious infections in other parts of the body.
