Vancomycin was first discovered in the 1950s by Eli Lilly and Company. It was derived from nature, like most antimicrobials. The compound, now known as vancomycin, was isolated from Streptomyces orientalis, a very large glycopeptide chemical structure.

Where does vancomycin come from?

Vancomycin is an amphoteric glycopeptide antibiotic produced by the soil bacterium Amycolatopsis orientalis. It is mainly used to treat serious Gram-positive bacterial infections that do not respond to other antibiotics. For most infections, it is administered intravenously because it is poorly absorbed from the gut.

Why was vancomycin called Mississippi Mud?

Vancomycin, nicknamed “Mississippi mud” because early preparations were impure and brown in color, exhibited exceptional bactericidal activity against Gram-positive organisms, including penicillin-resistant staphylococci in vitro and in humans.