Under what condition is Vancomycin administered orally?

Vancomycin is primarily administered orally for the treatment of Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) colitis. This condition often requires specific targeting of the intestinal infection due to C. difficile being a bacterium that primarily affects the gut. When the infection is localized in the gastrointestinal tract, oral administration ensures that the antibiotic reaches the site of infection directly, allowing for effective treatment.

The other conditions listed, such as skin infections, respiratory infections, and viral infections, typically do not warrant oral vancomycin. Skin infections are usually treated with other antibiotics, respiratory infections may require different mechanisms of action, and viral infections do not respond to antibiotics at all, as they are caused by viruses rather than bacteria. Consequently, the oral route of vancomycin is specifically employed for addressing C. diff colitis, highlighting its effectiveness and targeted application in the appropriate clinical scenario.