Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic evaluation of linezolid for the treatment of staphylococcal infections in critically ill patients

Mortality rates as high as 20 –50% in intensive care unit (ICU) patients owing to severe infections such as sepsis or septic shock are of great concern [1–4]. Staphylococci are common clinical isolates in these patients, and multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains such as meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and metic illin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MR-CoNS) are particularly frequent [5–7]. Linezolid was the first commercially available oxazolidinone antibiotic. It exhibits strong in vitro and in vivo activity against these organisms and has become an important drug for treating infections cau sed by MDR staphylococci in critically ill patients [7–10].
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Source Type: research