title: Efficacy and safety of linezolid for Gram-positive orthopedic infections: a prospective case series.
abstract: Linezolid is an attractive alternative for orthopedic infections because of oral bioavailability and activity against methicillin-resistant staphylococci and vancomycin-resistant enterococci. To determine efficacy and safety, we prospectively monitored 51 consecutive adults who were not vancomycin candidates and who received linezolid for 53 Gram-positive orthopedic infections, usually chronic osteomyelitis (n = 25) or prosthetic joint infection (n = 23). Pathogens were usually Staphylococcus aureus (n = 27) or coagulase-negative staphylococci (n = 19); 38 were methicillin resistant. After remission, 17 infections required long-term suppression, usually because of retained hardware. Clinical and microbiologic failure occurred in only one patient. The most common adverse events were thrombocytopenia (n = 5) and anemia (n = 5), necessitating treatment discontinuation in 3 patients. One patient developed reversible optic and irreversible peripheral neuropathy after 24 months of linezolid. Linezolid, with surgery, may be a reasonable alternative for Gram-positive orthopedic infections. We recommend weekly hematologic monitoring, and, if therapy lasts >2 months, periodic ophthalmologic monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA. raon@upmc.edu
authors.forename: Nalini
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Cindy W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Hamilton
mesh_terms: D000081:Acetamides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D000069349:Linezolid; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009985:Orthopedics; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D023303:Oxazolidinones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000081:Acetamides; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D023303:Oxazolidinones; D000069349:Linezolid