Self-administration of Teicoplanin

This leaflet is for patients who have been advised to take an antibiotic called teicoplanin to treat their infections and have chosen to self-administer this medication with the support of the outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT) team.

What is Teicoplanin?

Teicoplanin belongs to a group of antibiotics called glycopeptides. It is a medicine which is used in certain types of bacterial infections. Teicoplanin will always be administered intravenously (into a vein) and must not be taken by mouth.

Are there any side effects?

The most common (more than one in 100 patients and less than one in 10 patients) side effects are:

• Fever
• Itching
• Redness of the skin/ rash

If you experience any of the above side effects or any other, please inform one of the OPAT team. You will have regular blood tests in clinic while being treated with teicoplanin to check for any problems.

How do I administer it?

The OPAT nurse and ward nursing team will ensure you are happy and safe to administer Teicoplanin following the procedure below.

Actions

Always remember to check dose and expiry date of teicoplanin, water for injection and normal saline 0.9% (sodium chloride) solution.

1.Wash your hands and clean the preparation surface with disinfectant spray and assemble the necessary equipment. Your preparation surface should be a non-porous surface which is clear of clutter (e.g. a kitchen top or work desk).

2. Prepare sodium chloride 0.9% flushes

3. Prepare medication

• Clean the top of the water for injection ampoule with a small Clinell wipe and allow 20 seconds to dry before opening it.
• Open the water for injection ampoule
• Draw up the entire contents of the ampoule of water for injection using a 10mL syringe and a red filter needle.
• Slowly inject the water into the vial of teicoplanin powder and agitate in a rolling motion until the medication is fully dissolved - do not shake vial as pressure may build up and cause the glass to crack. Allow to stand for foam to reduce. This can take between 10 to 15 minutes.
• Repeat the above if necessary, until all the vials of teicoplanin needed are dissolved. These can be prepared simultaneously.
• Withdraw the mixed solution using the remaining 10ml syringe and needle - tilt the vial to the side if necessary, until the required dose of medication is prepared in one syringe.
• Dispose of the needle into the sharps bin.
• Return the filled syringe to the original packet to keep it clean.

4. Administering medication

• Clean the bio-connector on your PICC line with a small Clinell wipe and allow 20 seconds to dry.
• Flush the line with 10mLs of sodium chloride 0.9% solution using the pulse (push-pause) technique as demonstrated by the ward nurses and OPAT team.
• Administer the teicoplanin solution via the syringe in a smooth continuous motion over three to five minutes. Ensure that a clock or timer is used.
• Flush the PICC line with 10mLs of sodium chloride 0.9% solution using the pulse technique.

Potential problems

You should let the OPAT team know if any of the following happen;

• You feel unwell after administering the antibiotic.
• The antibiotic or the flush cannot easily be administered easily through the PICC line
• You may have injected a large amount of air.
• The PICC line feels sore/ uncomfortable, or a discharge is coming from the PICC entry site.