Zyvox (linezolid) - a new-generation antibiotic effective in bacterial infections

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.