Use of linezolid in critically ill patients admitted to intensive care units.
All indications of linezolid (LZD) in Intensive Care Units (ICU) were included as cases in an observational, prospective and multicentre study. One hundred thirty-nine indications were analyzed. In most cases (92.7%), treatment for nosocomial infections was indicated. The most frequent infection was pneumonia (42.7%), followed by catheter-related bacteraemias (CRB). A total of 58.7% of the indications were empirical and in 45.7% of the cases the cultures confirmed infection by gram-positive cocci (GPC). In 43 cases (31.2%), the indication was made as a rescue measure (mainly due to clinical failure) in patients previously treated with glycopeptides. Of isolated GPC, 70.2% were methicillin-resistant. The cure rate of the population per intent-to-treat was 73.2%. Only one case of thrombocytopenia was recorded. Conclusions. LZD is used with a high degree of diagnostic safety. In the ICU, it is primarily indicated to treat pneumonias and CRB with good clinical and microbiological response. This antibiotic has acted as a good therapeutic resource against clinical failure in infections treated with glycopeptides.
Rodríguez
O
O
Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Valencia, Spain. rodriguez_osc@gva.es
Alvarez
F
F
Oltra
R
R
Cereijo
E
E
Latorre
M M
MM
Martínez
H
H
D000081:Acetamides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D016638:Critical Illness; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000069349:Linezolid; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D023303:Oxazolidinones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000081:Acetamides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023303:Oxazolidinones; D000069349:Linezolid