OBJECTIVE Vancomycin dose needs to be reduced for decreased kidney function; however, impact of urinary albumin excretion (UAE) on serum vancomycin level is unknown. In this study, we examined the factors associated with the onset of renal impairment induced by vancomycin by focusing on UAE. METHODS The study included 52 patients who received vancomycin for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus at Ehime University Hospital between April 2010 and March 2015. To determine the presence of renal impairment, patients whose common terminology criteria for adverse-events (CTCAE) grade worsened by 1 or more comprised the renal impairment group, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS 13 patients (25%) had renal impairment as indicated by a CTCAE grade change by 1 or more. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis only of UAE (OR = 18.03; 95% CI = 1.97 - 164.89) was identified as a significant factor. CONCLUSIONS We investigated the factors associated with the onset of renal impairment induced by vancomycin and identified UAE as a potential risk factor.