The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7271 p536
18 October 2003

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Infectious Diseases Society of America (www.idsociety.org)

Linezolid advantage

Linezolid (Zyvox) is more effective than vancomycin for complicated skin and soft tissue infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a trial shows. Linezolid cured 94 per cent of patients with MRSA infection compared with an 84 per cent cure rate for patients given vancomycin. In addition, the length of time that intravenous therapy was required was shorter in the linezolid group, as was the duration of stay in hospital.

The results were presented at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America in San Diego last week.