title: Activity of linezolid against anaerobic bacteria.
abstract: Minimal inhibition concentrations (MICs) were determined for linezolid (LZD) and compared with those of reference antibiotics against 265 anaerobes. For the Bacteroides fragilis group, MIC range for LZD was 2-4 mg/l. Strains resistant to the other antibiotics were detected including one strain of B. fragilis showing high level resistance to metronidazole (64 mg/l). LZD MIC(50) was 4 mg/l for prevotella and 1 mg/l for fusobacteria. LZD MICs were <1 mg/l for porphyromonas and veillonellae and </=4 mg/l for all Gram-positive anaerobes. For all anaerobes, resistance rates were 1, 2.4, 9.8 and 17% for imipenem, amoxycillin-clavulanic acid, metronidazole and clindamycin, respectively. As no strains resistant to LZD were detected, this antibiotic seems a promising candidate to treat infections caused by anaerobes.
authors.affiliation: Faculté de Pharmacie, University of Lille II, 3 rue du Professeur Laguesse, BP83, 59006 Lille cedex, France.
authors.forename: Josette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Behra-Miellet
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calvet
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dubreuil
mesh_terms: D000081:Acetamides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D001441:Bacteroides fragilis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006089:Gram-Negative Anaerobic Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D000069349:Linezolid; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D023303:Oxazolidinones / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000081:Acetamides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023303:Oxazolidinones; D000069349:Linezolid