Efficacy and tolerability of linezolid in chronic osteomyelitis and prosthetic joint infections: a case-control study.
Clinical experience of prolonged use of linezolid in patients with bone infections is accumulating. However more efficacy and safety data are required. this is a case-control study of patients who received linezolid for difficult-to-treat, intolerant or resistant-to-other-antibiotics bone infections. Linezolid was administered i.v. or orally in 34 patients. Results concerning efficacy and safety were compared to a group of well-matched controls. The clinical arrest rate was 74% in the linezolid group and 68% in the control group (p=NS). treatment was discontinued in 14 (44%) patients of the linezolid group and in 2 (6%) patients of the control group due to adverse events. In the linezolid group 11 (33%) patients developed anemia and 3 (9%) developed thrombocytopenia that led to discontinuation of treatment. Linezolid is effective in a substantial proportion of patients, but the incidence of hematologic adverse events makes close follow-up and laboratory monitoring mandatory.
4th Department of Internal Medicine, University of Athens, Greece.
A
A
Papadopoulos
D
D
Plachouras
E
E
Giannitsioti
G
G
Poulakou
H
H
Giamarellou
K
K
Kanellakopoulou
D000081:Acetamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007595:Joint Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000069349:Linezolid; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D023303:Oxazolidinones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy
D000081:Acetamides; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D023303:Oxazolidinones; D000069349:Linezolid