A 50-year-old man develops hospital-acquired MRSA pneumonia. He is allergic to Vancomycin (Red Man Syndrome — infusion reaction, not true allergy).

Question

A 50-year-old man develops hospital-acquired MRSA pneumonia. He is allergic to Vancomycin (Red Man Syndrome — infusion reaction, not true allergy). What approach allows continued Vancomycin use?

Accepted Answer

Slow the infusion rate to ≥2 hours and pre-medicate with IV Chlorphenamine — Red Man Syndrome is a histamine-mediated infusion reaction, not true allergy

Answer

Use intramuscular Vancomycin instead

Answer

Vancomycin must be permanently discontinued

Answer

Administer Vancomycin as a rapid IV push

Answer

Switch to Teicoplanin — no cross-reactivity

Red Man Syndrome Management — SCE Infectious Diseases MCQ

A 50-year-old man develops hospital-acquired MRSA pneumonia. He is allergic to Vancomycin (Red Man Syndrome — infusion reaction, not true allergy). What approach allows continued Vancomycin use?