The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7250 p711
24 May 2003

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Benefit of linezolid

Patients given the oxazolidinone antibacterial linezolid (Zyvox) for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) hospital acquired (nosocomial) pneumonia are more likely to survive than patients treated with vancomycin, according to a study presented this week at the American Thoracic Society conference in Seattle.

Overall survival in linezolid-treated patients was 80 per cent compared with 63.5 per cent in vancomycin-treated patients. Linezolid therapy was identified as a significant independent predictor of survival (odds ratio 2.2, P=0.5).

Presenting the study, Dr Richard Wunderink, clinical associate professor of medicine, University of Tennessee, Memphis, said: "This study calls into question whether vancomycin should still be the standard treatment in MRSA nosocomial pneumonia." He observed that doctors who prescribe vancomycin tend to underdose in patients with renal problems because of the risk of renal failure. Treatment with linezolid would be especially appropriate for these patients. However, he added that linezolid is more expensive than vancomycin.

Further reports from the ATS conference will appear in next week's PJ.