The rapid emergence of multi-drug resistant bacterial strains and the poten
tial threat they pose to humans and animals initiated research into finding
a new type of antibiotic. Zyvox (linezolid), a new synthetic antibiotic of
the oxazolidinone group is very effective in treating infections caused by
Gram positive bacteria resistant to known antibiotics and other chemical t
reatments. It is the first antibiotic approved to treat patients with serio
us or life-threatening infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphyloc
occus aureus, penicillin- resistant pneumococci and vancomycin-resistant en
terococci. Zyvox is rapidly absorbed from the alimentary canal, reaches pea
k plasma concentration after 1.5 h, has a terminal half-life of 5-7 h and o
nly 30% of the antibiotic binds to plasma proteins.