Good clinical outcomes but high rates of adverse reactions during linezolid therapy for serious infections: a proposed protocol for monitoring therapy in complex patients

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2006 Apr;50(4):1599-602. doi: 10.1128/AAC.50.4.1599-1602.2006.

Abstract

We assessed the toxicity and clinical outcomes associated with linezolid therapy (mean duration, 29+/-28 days; range, 8 to 185 days) in 44 patients with serious gram-positive infections. Although a clinical cure was achieved in 73% of the cases, 28/44 (64%) had adverse reactions (thrombocytopenia, n=13; anemia, n=7; gastrointestinal, n=12; peripheral neuropathy, n=1; serotonin syndrome, n=1), such that a systematic monitoring protocol was developed.

MeSH terms

  • Acetamides / adverse effects*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anti-Infective Agents / adverse effects*
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Linezolid
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxazolidinones / adverse effects*
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Acetamides
  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Oxazolidinones
  • Linezolid