The Efficacy and Safety of Linezolid for the Treatment of Suspected or Proven Gram Positive Skin and Soft Tissue Infections

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Linezolid, an oxazolidinone, has shown efficacy in the treatment of adults with nosocomial or community-acquired pneumonia, skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI), and infections due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. We have taken part in the study for evaluation of efficacy and safety of linezolid for the treatment of suspected or proven gram-positive SSTI in Asia. We sub-analyzed and reported the results of the study among Korean patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 patients were enrolled in the study for evaluation of efficacy and safety of linezolid for the treatment of gram-positive SSTI at eight teaching hospitals in Korea. We investigated patients' medical history, physical examination and laboratory study. Patients were regularly followed up to evaluate clinical response, laboratory changes, and adverse event up to 4 weeks after treatment. When possible, we performed microbiological study before and after treatment. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients were enrolled. Average age of the patient was 50.9+/-15.3 years old with male to female ratio being 1.31. Cellulitis, open wound infection, skin abscess, and other clinical manifestations were observed in 47 (78.3%), 6 (10.0%), 2 (3.3%), and 5 (8.3%) patients, respectively. Forty two patients completed both follow-up and treatment and among them, treatment was successful in 38 patients (90.5%) and unsuccessful in 4 patients (9.5%). Microoranisms were isolated from seven patients and 14 isolates were documented; 11 S. aureus, 3 coagulase-negative staphylococcus. Among the seven patients, bacteria were eradicated in four patient and the organism proved to be colonization in three patients. The most frequent drug-related adverse events were gastrointestinal (21.7%), hematologic and biochemical (21.7%) and neurologic (3.3%), in decreasing order. Nausea (15%) was the most frequent symptom and there were no serious side effects related to linezolid. CONCLUSION: Linezolid was effective and safe in treatment of gram-positive SSTI.