What dose per kg does this calculator use?

Standard indication: 15 mg/kg/dose. Serious infections (MRSA bacteremia, endocarditis): 20–25 mg/kg/dose. CNS/meningitis: 25 mg/kg/dose (higher CNS penetration needed). Individual doses are typically capped at 3,000 mg unless otherwise directed by a pharmacist.

How is CrCl calculated?

CrCl is estimated with the Cockcroft-Gault equation: CrCl = [(140 - age) × weight × sex_factor] / (72 × serum creatinine). Sex factor is 1.0 for males and 0.85 for females. Weight should be actual body weight; for obese patients, adjusted body weight is sometimes used — consult your protocol.

What dosing interval corresponds to each CrCl range?

CrCl ≥ 70 mL/min: every 8–12 h; CrCl 40–69: every 12 h; CrCl 20–39: every 24 h; CrCl 10–19: every 24–48 h; CrCl < 10 or dialysis: every 48–72 h, or dose after HD session. These are population-based starting points; measured levels guide subsequent adjustments.

Should I use actual or adjusted body weight for obese patients?

Vancomycin distributes into lean body mass. For patients with BMI > 40, many institutions use a pharmacokinetic dosing weight: ABW + 0.4 × (ABW - IBW). This calculator uses actual body weight as entered; adjust manually for obese patients per your protocol.

Is trough monitoring still recommended?

The 2020 ASHP/IDSA consensus recommends AUC-guided monitoring over trough-only monitoring for serious MRSA infections. However, trough targets (15–20 mg/L) remain a practical surrogate in many settings. This tool shows an expected trough range for reference only.

Is this a substitute for pharmacy dosing?

No. This tool provides an educational estimate. All vancomycin dosing should be reviewed by a licensed clinical pharmacist who can account for changing renal function, drug interactions, protein binding, obesity, and local resistance patterns.

Vancomycin Dosing Calculator

Name: Vancomycin Dosing Calculator
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

Enter weight, serum creatinine, age, sex, and indication to estimate an initial vancomycin IV dose and interval — for reference only.

Patient Parameters

Weight (kg)

Height (cm)

Age (years)

Biological Sex

Serum Creatinine (mg/dL) (SI: ÷ 88.4)

Indication / Severity

Infusion Duration (hours)

Enter patient parameters and click Calculate Dose.

Summary

Enter weight, serum creatinine, age, sex, and indication to estimate an initial vancomycin IV dose and interval — for reference only.

How it works

Enter actual body weight (kg) and height (cm) to calculate body surface area context.
Input age, sex, and serum creatinine; the Cockcroft-Gault equation estimates CrCl.
Select the infection indication: standard, serious/MRSA bacteremia, or CNS/meningitis.
The calculator applies a weight-based loading dose (mg/kg) appropriate for the indication.
Dosing interval (q6h, q8h, q12h, q24h, or q48h) is assigned from the CrCl range.
Total daily dose (g/day) and expected trough range are displayed for verification.

Use cases

Estimate a starting vancomycin dose for a patient with normal renal function.
Adjust the dosing interval for a patient with reduced CrCl or acute kidney injury.
Calculate a higher loading dose for serious MRSA bacteremia or CNS infections.
Quickly check whether a prescribed dose falls within the standard weight-based range.
Support pharmacokinetics education and clinical pharmacy training.
Prepare for a pharmacy consult by having initial numbers ready to discuss.
Screen for obvious underdosing or overdosing before lab levels are available.
Compare initial dosing estimates across different body weights or creatinine levels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-07-01 · Reviewed by Nham Vu