Infections due to vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium resistant to linezolid

Lancet. 2001 Apr 14;357(9263):1179. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(00)04376-2.

Abstract

Linezolid is a new oxazolidinone antibiotic used to treat infections caused by vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). In early clinical trials, emergence of resistance occurred rarely. We report clinical details and antibiotic susceptibility from five patients treated with linezolid for VRE infections who had resistant organisms isolated during therapy. Four were transplant patients receiving protracted courses of the drug; three cases were associated with treatment failure. One of 45 linezolid-treated patients developed resistance during therapy. Susceptibility testing should be done in all cases on starting therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Acetamides / pharmacology
  • Acetamides / therapeutic use*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Resistance, Microbial
  • Enterococcus faecium / drug effects*
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Linezolid
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxazolidinones / pharmacology
  • Oxazolidinones / therapeutic use*
  • Vancomycin / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Acetamides
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Oxazolidinones
  • Vancomycin
  • Linezolid