Linezolid

Linezolid is an oxazolidinone antibacterial agent that acts by inhibiting t he initiation of bacterial protein synthesis, Cross-resistance between line zolid and other inhibitors of protein synthesis has not been demonstrated. Linezolid has a wide spectrum of activity against Gram-positive organisms i ncluding methicillin-resistant staphylococci, penicillin-resistant pneumoco cci ana vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis and E. faccium. Anerobes such as Clostridium spp., Peptostreptococcus spp. and Prevotella spp. are also susceptible to linezolid. Linezolid is bacteriostatic against most susceptible organisms but displays bactericidal activity against some strains of pneumococci, Bacteroides fra gilis and C. perfringens. In clinical trials involving hospitalised patients with skin/soft tissue in fections (predominantly S. aureus), intravenous/oral linezolid (up to 1250m g mddav) produced clinical success in >83% of individuals, In patients with community-acquired pneumonia, success rates were >94%. Preliminary clinical data also indicate that twice daily intravenous/oral l inezolid 600mg is as effective as intravenous vancomycin ig in the treatmen t of patients: with hospital-acquired pneumonia and in those with infection s caused by methicillin-resistant staphylococci. Moreover, linezolid 600mg twice daily produced >85% clinical/microbiological cure in vancomycin-resis tant enterococcal infections. Linezolid is generally well tolerated and gastrointestinal disturbances are the most commonly occurring adverse events, No clinical evidence of advers e reactions as a result of monoamine oxidase inhibition has been reported.