Use of linezolid in critically ill patients admitted to intensive care units

Rev Esp Quimioter. 2009 Jun;22(2):68-75.

Abstract

All indications of linezolid (LZD) in Intensive Care Units (ICU) were included as cases in an observational, prospective and multicentre study. One hundred thirty-nine indications were analyzed. In most cases (92.7%), treatment for nosocomial infections was indicated. The most frequent infection was pneumonia (42.7%), followed by catheter-related bacteraemias (CRB). A total of 58.7% of the indications were empirical and in 45.7% of the cases the cultures confirmed infection by gram-positive cocci (GPC). In 43 cases (31.2%), the indication was made as a rescue measure (mainly due to clinical failure) in patients previously treated with glycopeptides. Of isolated GPC, 70.2% were methicillin-resistant. The cure rate of the population per intent-to-treat was 73.2%. Only one case of thrombocytopenia was recorded. Conclusions. LZD is used with a high degree of diagnostic safety. In the ICU, it is primarily indicated to treat pneumonias and CRB with good clinical and microbiological response. This antibiotic has acted as a good therapeutic resource against clinical failure in infections treated with glycopeptides.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetamides / adverse effects
  • Acetamides / therapeutic use*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Catheter-Related Infections / drug therapy
  • Catheter-Related Infections / epidemiology
  • Community-Acquired Infections / drug therapy
  • Community-Acquired Infections / epidemiology
  • Critical Care / methods*
  • Critical Illness*
  • Cross Infection / drug therapy*
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology
  • Cross Infection / prevention & control
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / drug therapy*
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units / statistics & numerical data*
  • Linezolid
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification
  • Oxazolidinones / adverse effects
  • Oxazolidinones / therapeutic use*
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / drug therapy
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / epidemiology
  • Postoperative Complications / drug therapy
  • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Staphylococcal Infections / drug therapy
  • Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Thrombocytopenia / chemically induced
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Acetamides
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Oxazolidinones
  • Linezolid