title: Linezolid versus vancomycin for the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections.
abstract: Linezolid, the first available member of a new antibiotic class, the oxazolidinones, is broadly active against gram-positive bacteria, including drug-resistant strains. In this randomized, open-label trial, hospitalized adults with known or suspected methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections were treated with linezolid (600 mg twice daily; n=240) or vancomycin (1 g twice daily; n=220) for 7-28 days. S. aureus was isolated from 53% of patients; 93% of these isolates were MRSA. Skin and soft-tissue infection was the most common diagnosis, followed by pneumonia and urinary tract infection. At the test-of-cure visit (15-21 days after the end of therapy), among evaluable patients with MRSA, there was no statistical difference between the 2 treatment groups with respect to clinical cure rates (73.2% of patients in the linezolid group and 73.1% in the vancomycin group) or microbiological success rates (58.9% in the linezolid group and 63.2% in the vancomycin group). Both regimens were well tolerated, with similar rates of adverse events.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Section, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Boise, ID, 83702, USA. dlsteven@mindspring.com
authors.forename: Dennis L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Herr
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lampiris
authors.forename: John Lee
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Donald H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Batts
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hafkin
mesh_terms: D000081:Acetamides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069349:Linezolid; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008875:Middle Aged; D023303:Oxazolidinones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000081:Acetamides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023303:Oxazolidinones; D014640:Vancomycin; D000069349:Linezolid