Linezolid
General
- Type: Oxazolidinone antibiotic
- Dosage Forms: PO/IV
- Common Trade Names: Zyvox
- Bacteriostatic, so prefer another agent in bacteremia, such as ceftaroline in vancomycin resistant MRSA
Adult Dosing
- VRE infections:
- 600 mg PO/IV Q12H x 14-28 days
- Pneumonia, community-acquired:
- 600 mg PO/IV Q12H x 5 days
- Pneumonia, hospital-acquired or ventilator-associated:
- 600 mg PO/IV Q12H x 5 days
- Uncomplicated skin infections:
- 400 mg PO Q12H x 10-14 days
- Complicated skin infections:
- 600 mg PO/IV Q12H x 10-14 days
- Endocarditis
- 600 mg PO/IV Q12H x 6 weeks
Pediatric Dosing
- >12 years old: 600mg IV/PO q12h
- <12 years: 10mg/kg IV/PO q8-12h
Special Populations
- Pregnancy Rating: C
- Lactation: Infant risk cannot be ruled out
- Renal Dosing
- Renal impairment: no adjustment
- Hemodialysis: give dose after HD
Hepatic dosing: no adjustment for mild-moderate impairment (Child-Pugh Class A or B)
Contraindications
- Allergy to class/drug
- Use of MAOIs, concomitantly or within past 14 days
Adverse Reactions
Serious
- Serotonin syndrome can be caused with concomitant use with an SSRI or MAOI
- Myelosuppression can occur after two weeks of use
- Thrombocytopenia[1]
- Peripheral and optic neuropathy
- Lactic acidosis
- Clostridium difficile diarrhea
- Liver injury
- Seizure
Common
- GI upset
- Headache
- Fever
Pharmacology
- Half-life: adults- 4.7-5.1h, pediatrics- 1.5-4.1
- Metabolism:
- Excretion:
Mechanism of Action
Antibiotic Sensitivities[2]
Key
- S susceptible/sensitive (usually)
- I intermediate (variably susceptible/resistant)
- R resistant (or not effective clinically)
- S+ synergistic with cell wall antibiotics
- U sensitive for UTI only (non systemic infection)
- X1 no data
- X2 active in vitro, but not used clinically
- X3 active in vitro, but not clinically effective for Group A strep pharyngitis or infections due to E. faecalis
- X4 active in vitro, but not clinically effective for strep pneumonia