The anti-anaerobic activity of AZD2563, a new oxazolidinone, was compared with that of eight other agents against 201 Gram-positive and 99 Gram-negative anaerobes. MIC(50) and MIC(90) values (mg/L) for the 201 Gram-positive organisms were as follows: AZD2563, 1.0/4.0; linezolid, 1.0/4.0; quinupristin/dalfopristin, 0.5/1.0; amoxicillin, 0.25/1.0; clindamycin, 0.25/8.0; metronidazole, 0.5/>16.0; vancomycin, 0.5/2.0; teicoplanin, 0.125/0.25; and meropenem, 0.06/1.0. AZD2563, linezolid, vancomycin, teicoplanin and quinupristin/dalfopristin were mainly active against Gram-positive anaerobes, with no useful activity against Gram-negative anaerobes.