We previously observed that the intrarenal distribution of aminoglycosides was modified by Escherichia coli endotoxin in the absence of any major renal physiological disturbance or histological changes. In the present study, we evaluated the role of E. coli endotoxin on the intrarenal distribution of vancomycin. At the beginning of the experiment, female Sprague-Dawley rats were infused intravenously with saline (control) or endotoxin (0.25 mg/kg) during 15 min. Thereafter, saline was constantly infused for the following 4 h. Two hours after the beginning of the infusion, animals were injected intravenously with a single dose of vancomycin (20 mg/kg).The drug levels in serum; renal cortex, medulla, and papilla; and urine were evaluated from 0.08 to 24 h after injection. Analysis of the area under the curve of the drug concentration in the different kidney components versus time showed a higher accumulation of vancomycin in the renal cortex and medulla in the endotoxininfused rats than in the normal rats (P < 0.01). Endotoxin was associated with an increase in the half-life in serum (P < 0.01) and a lower elimination rate constant. The total clearance of vancomycin from plasma was significantly decreased in endotoxin-treated rats (P < 0.01). These results demonstrate that endotoxin modifies the renal handling of vancomycin.Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic with potent activity against gram-positive bacteria which may increase the nephrotoxic potential of aminoglycosides. The early preparation introduced in the 1950s had many impurities (14). During that period, although the nephrotoxic potential was not clearly established, up to 25% of patient were reported to have increased azotemia (29). When less toxic antistaphylococcal antibiotics, including the semisynthetic penicillins and cephalosporins, appeared, vancomycin use drastically diminished; but the emergence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci has prompted the resurgence of its use (27). The currently available compound has been purified and is believed to be less toxic than the parent compound. The incidence of nephrotoxicity with the new vancomycin has been less than 8% (11,23,27). In animals, large doses of antibiotics are needed to induce renal damage, and the mechanism of renal toxicity has not been determined. It seems that vancomycin accumulates within the renal parenchyma and induces an interstitial nephritis and proximal tubular necrosis.Endotoxin, an important constituent of the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria, has been classified as a major offender that is responsible for many complications associated with severe infections, including septic shock and renal failure. Endotoxin, which is liberated in infected patients and released in excess during antibiotic therapy (25), is able to modify the hemodynamic status of the host (13), to activate the immunological and inflammatory processes (6), to induce vasoconstriction (28), and to act directly on target cells and organelles to induce cell injuries (15,18).Previous experimental studies fr...