Successful treatment of vancomycin-resistant enterococcus meningitis with linezolid: case report and review of the literature.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the successful treatment of a case of vancomycin-resistant enterococcus meningitis with linezolid.


METHODS
Case report and review of the literature.


METHODS
The patient is a 35-yr-old man who suffered a cerebellar hemorrhage after embolization of a cerebellar arteriovenous malformation. The patient underwent ventriculostomy drainage and craniectomy. The patient was on broad-spectrum antibiotics for pneumonia including vancomycin. The patient remained febrile and grew vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium from the cerebrospinal fluid.


METHODS
The patient was treated with intravenous chloramphenicol without success. On postoperative day 16, the patient was begun on intravenous linezolid.


RESULTS
The patient received 4 wks of intravenous linezolid with complete eradication of the meningitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Intravenous linezolid appears to be a safe and effective therapy for vancomycin-resistant enterococcus meningitis.
Steinmetz
M P
MP
Department of Neurosurgery, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Vogelbaum
M A
MA
De Georgia
M A
MA
Andrefsky
J C
JC
Isada
C
C
D000081:Acetamides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000187:drug effects; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D000069349:Linezolid; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D023303:Oxazolidinones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance; D014696:Ventriculostomy / Q000009:adverse effects
D000081:Acetamides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023303:Oxazolidinones; D000069349:Linezolid