What type of bacteria is Vancomycin primarily effective against?

Vancomycin is primarily effective against gram-positive bacteria due to its unique mechanism of action and chemical structure. It works by inhibiting cell wall synthesis in these bacteria, specifically targeting the peptidoglycan component of their cell walls. Gram-positive bacteria tend to have thick peptidoglycan layers, making them particularly susceptible to vancomycin's effects.

In clinical use, vancomycin is commonly prescribed to treat infections caused by resistant strains of gram-positive bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and certain strains of Streptococcus. The selectivity for gram-positive organisms arises because vancomycin cannot penetrate the outer membrane found in gram-negative bacteria, which protects them from its action.

The other types of bacteria mentioned do not respond to vancomycin. Gram-negative bacteria have a different cell wall structure that vancomycin is unable to affect. Mycoplasma bacteria lack a cell wall entirely, rendering the action of vancomycin ineffective. Fungal bacteria, which are also fundamentally different from bacterial cells in structure and function, do not respond to this antibiotic, as antifungal medications are required to treat fungal infections specifically. Thus, the effectiveness of vancomycin