title: Linezolid in the treatment of methicillin-resistant staphylococcal post-neurosurgical meningitis: a series of 17 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Linezolid is a bacteriostatic antibiotic with good cerebrospinal fluid penetration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of linezolid in methicillin-resistant staphylococcal (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (MRCoNS)) meningitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We extracted data and outcomes for all adult patients (age > 18 y) with culture-proven MRSA or MRCoNS meningitis treated with linezolid between January 2006 and September 2010 in our hospital. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data and predisposing factors, as well as information on response to treatment and outcome were obtained by regular visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 17 cases (9 MRCoNS, 7 MRSA, and 1 MRCoNS and MRSA mixed) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. All patients had hospital-acquired meningitis and had undergone neurosurgery. Cumulative microbiological success on day 5 was 88%. There was 1 staphylococcal meningitis-related death. There were no severe adverse events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our experience with linezolid suggests that it can be an alternative for the treatment of MRCoNS- and MRSA-related meningitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Izmir, Turkey. oguz.resat.sipahi@ege.edu.tr
authors.forename: Oguz Resat
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Sipahi
authors.forename: Selin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bardak
authors.forename: Tuncer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Turhan
authors.forename: Bilgin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Arda
authors.forename: Husnu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pullukcu
authors.forename: Mete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruksen
authors.forename: Sohret
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aydemir
authors.forename: Tayfun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dalbasti
authors.forename: Taskin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yurtseven
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zileli
authors.forename: Sercan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ulusoy
mesh_terms: D000081:Acetamides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069349:Linezolid; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D023303:Oxazolidinones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000081:Acetamides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023303:Oxazolidinones; D000069349:Linezolid