"Start with meropenem and vancomycin—just to be safe."
Sound familiar?
If you've ever used this combo when unsure of the infection source, you're not alone. But here's the problem:
Most of the time, it's either massive overkill—or completely misses the target.
In this video, we break down:
• What vancomycin is really for (hint: it's mostly about MRSA)
• When meropenem makes sense—and when it causes more harm than good
• Why broad-spectrum therapy accelerates antimicrobial resistance
• A better approach to community-acquired and hospital-acquired infections
• How to think like an ID specialist—without becoming one

If you're a clinician making high-stakes decisions under pressure, this video will change how you approach empiric therapy. No fluff—just real-world logic and clinical clarity.

FREE LESSONS:
If you want a deeper, structured understanding of antibiotics, start with my free lessons on antibiotic fundamentals that take about an hour to complete:
drviktorkotarski.podia.com/antibiotics-in-practice…

COMPLETE ONLINE COURSE:
Then continue with the full course on hospital acquired infections, where I cover ESBLs, OXA-48, NDM, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, MRSA, VRE, and much more:
drviktorkotarski.podia.com/hospital-acquired-infec…

For short posts with extra clinical insights, follow me on LinkedIn.
www.linkedin.com/in/viktor-kotarski-94922a63/

DISCLAIMER: Please, always keep in mind that my videos are intended for educational purposes only. The content of my videos is NOT medical advice. I do not practice medicine over the Internet. If you are a patient and have any questions about your health, please talk to your doctor.

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Why include vancomycin in empiric therapy?
01:06 What meropenem does — the good and the bad
02:07 Bacteria resistant to meropenem and other carbapenems
02:26 Meropenem plus vancomycin for community-acquired infections?
04:53 Meropenem plus vancomycin for hospital-acquired infections?
05:41 Before starting empiric therapy, don’t forget this crucial step!