Antimicrobials
Linezolid

Linezolid

Restricted

Low
Excellent
$190/day

Spectrum of Activity

Dosing

General Information

  • Targeted or empiric therapy for gram positive infections including skin and soft tissue, and pneumonia.
  • Covers MRSA and VRE
  • CBC at least once/week.
  • Visual testing for therapy greater than 3 months or if symptoms develop on therapy.
  • Myelosuppression (usually with >2 weeks therapy)- reversible
  • Peripheral/optic neuropathy with prolonged courses
  • Rash
  • Elevated liver enzymes
  • Lactic acidosis
  • SSRI and other serotonergics/MAOIs- increased risk of serotonin syndrome
  • Rifampin decreases linezolid levels.

Antimicrobial class: Oxazolidinone

Average serum half life:

  • Preterm neonates <1 week: 5.6 hours
  • Full-term neonates < 1 week : 3 hours
  • Full-term neonates ≥1 week to ≤ 28 days: 1.5 hours
  • Infants > 28 days to < 3 months: 1.8 hours
  • Infants and Children 3 months to 11 years: 2.9 hours
  • Adolescents: 4.1 hours
  • Adults: 4.9 hours

Route of Elimination:

  • Urine (~30% of total dose as parent drug, ~50 of total dose as inactive metabolites), two metabolites may accumulate in patients with severe renal impairment
  • Feces (9% of total dose as metabolites)