Clinical Evaluation after a Notification Policy of Linezolid Use: A Case Series of 22 Patients

Abstract

Linezolid exhibits a broad spectrum of activity against Gram-positive cocci, including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). However, recent studies have already reported the emergence of linezolid-resistant MRSA or VRE. The purpose of this study is to evaluate not only the efficacy of linezolid for the treatment of nosocomial MRSA infections but also the ef-fect of a notification policy of linezolid use. The charts of inpatients who had been treated with linezolid were reviewed for clinical outcome. After introduction of the no-tification policy of linezolid use, the clinical success rate was 73.3%, and the rate of appropriate linezolid use was 80%, whereas the success rate was 14.2% and the appropriate use rate was 14.3% before the policy. In conclusion, appropriate use controlled by a notification policy of antibiotics use is essential for prevention of the emergence and spread of linezolid-resistant bacteria, and for proper demonstration of its antibacterial ability.

Keywords:

• Linezolid
• antibiotic notification policy
• antibiotic-resistant bacteria
• infection control team
• methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
• van-comycin-resistant enterococci (VRE)