Linezolid: First of a new drug class for Gram-positive infections

Linezolid is an oxazolidinone-type antibacterial agent which inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by specifically binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit. Linezolid is active against Gram-positive organisms and certain anaerobes, and has shown some bactericidal activity. Methicillin-resistant staphylococci, penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium are susceptible to linezolid. This agent is effective in patients with skin and soft tissue infections, community-acquired and nosocomial pneumonia, and bacteraemia, and has similar efficacy to that of other standard treatments. Resistance to linezolid has been reported in a small number of patients infected with E. faecium. Linezolid is generally well tolerated and most events (mainly GI-related) are of mild to moderate intensity, resolve during continuous linezolid treatment and are not dose-related. Linezolid is an important new drug which is likely to be of use in the treatment of serious or complicated infections due to potentially resistant Gram-positive organisms.