title: Oxazolidinones--a new class of broad-spectrum chemotherapeutics.
abstract: The oxazolidinones are a new class of broad spectrum chemotherapeutics of antibiotic properties. These drugs have good activity against Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria. Oxazolidinones possess an unique mechanism of inhibitory bacterial protein biosynthesis. These compounds inhibit the formation of N-formylmethionyl-tRNA, which is a requisite of beginning translation process. Linezolid, the first oxazolidinone to be approved for the clinical treatment of Gram-positive bacterial infections, displays a wide spectrum of in vitro activity against many important pathogens, including for instance methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant enterococci and penicillin-resistant pneumococci. Linezolid is a pararental drug that also possesses near-complete oral bioavailability and a favourable pharmacokinetic profile. In clinical trials involving hospitalised patients with skin and soft tissue infections oxazolidinones appeared to be effective treatment option, comparable in efficacy to vancomycin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Synthesis and Technology of Drugs, Skubiszewski Medical University of Lublin.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sztanke
authors.forename: Kazimierz
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pasternak
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sztanke
mesh_terms: D000081:Acetamides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D000069349:Linezolid; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D023303:Oxazolidinones / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000081:Acetamides; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D023303:Oxazolidinones; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D000069349:Linezolid