Oxazolidinones: a new class of antibacterials

Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2001 Oct;1(5):470-6. doi: 10.1016/s1471-4892(01)00082-0.

Abstract

The oxazolidinones represent the first truly new class of antibacterial agents to reach the marketplace in several decades. They have a unique mechanism of action involving inhibition of the initiation step of protein synthesis and are not cross-resistant to other classes of antibiotics. The first marketed member of that class, linezolid (Zyvox), shows good efficacy with an impressive antibacterial spectrum (including activity against gram-positive organisms resistant to other drugs), and a pharmacodynamic/pharmacokinetic relationship best characterized by time above the minimum inhibitory concentration. The agent is effective by both the intravenous and oral route of administration. Although technically classified as bacteriostatic against a number of pathogens in vitro, linezolid behaves in vivo like a bactericidal antibiotic.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Infective Agents / classification*
  • Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Infective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
  • Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests / statistics & numerical data
  • Oxazolidinones / classification*
  • Oxazolidinones / pharmacology*
  • Oxazolidinones / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Oxazolidinones