In vitro susceptibility of Coxiella burnetii to linezolid in comparison with its susceptibilities to quinolones, doxycycline, and clarithromycin

The in vitro susceptibility to linezolid shown by nine Greek isolates of Co xiella burnetii derived from patients with acute Q fever was investigated. MICs of linezolid were compared with those of pefloxacin, ciprofloxacin, of loxacin, trovafloxacin, doxycycline, and clarithromycin using the shell via l assay. MICs of linezolid and clarithromycin ranged from 2 to 4 mug/ml; th ose of doxycycline, trovafloxacin, and ofloxacin ranged from 1 to 2 mug/ml; those of pefloxacin ranged from 1 to 4 mug/ml; and those of ciprofloxacin ranged from 4 to 8 mug/ml. Linezolid was effective in controlling intracell ular parasites in cultures of Vero cells infected by C. burnetii. No bacter icidal activity by linezolid was obtained against C. burnetii at 8 mug/ml.