MRSA

[Guest guest]

Hi,

maybe those of you dealing with MRSA find the info below helpful. Linezolid

is the generic name of the drug Zyvox.

Peace

Torsten, dad of Fiona 6wcf and Sebastian 4months wocf

e-mail: torstenkrafft@...

Linezolid Treats Resistant Gram-Positive Infections in Children=A0

Aug. 22, 2003 =97 Linezolid is at least as effective as vancomycin in

children with resistant gram-positive infections, according to the

results of a phase III randomized trial published in the August issue of

Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. " Pediatric infections caused by

resistant [g]ram-positive infections are an increasing concern with

limited treatment options, " write Sheldon L. Kaplan, MD, and colleagues

from the Linezolid Pediatric Study Group. " Linezolid, a new

oxazolidinone, is active against staphylococci, streptococci and

enterococci. " Of 321 hospitalized children with antibiotic-resistant

gram-positive infections, 219 received linezolid intravenously followed

by oral linezolid, and 102 received vancomycin followed by an

appropriate oral agent. Children ranged in age from birth to 12 years

and had nosocomial pneumonia, complicated skin and skin structure

infections (CSSSI), catheter-related bacteremia, bacteremia of unknown

source, or other infections caused by gram-positive bacteria. Treatment

duration was 10 to 28 days. Clinical cure rates were not significantly

different in the linezolid and vancomycin groups (79% vs. 74% for

intent-to-treat patients and 89% vs. 85% for clinically evaluable

patients). Age and infection diagnosis did not affect cure rates.

Pathogen eradication rates were equally high for methicillin-susceptible

Staphylococcus aureus (95% vs. 94%; P =3D .82), methicillin-resistant S.

aureus (88% vs. 90%; P =3D .89), and methicillin-resistant

coagulase-negative staphylococci (85% vs. 83%; P =3D .87). In clinically

evaluable patients, duration of intravenous therapy required was 8.0 =B1

4.8 days for linezolid and 10.9 =B1 5.8 days for vancomycin (P < .001).

Drug-related adverse events occurred in 19% of patients receiving

linezolid and in 34% of patients receiving vancomycin (P =3D .003), but

hematologic events were uncommon and similar between treatment groups.

" Linezolid was well-tolerated and as effective as vancomycin in treating

serious [g]ram-positive infections in children, " the authors write. " The

efficacy of linezolid was documented across all age groups, including

neonates, and across the specific site of infection.... Linezolid has

coverage against potentially resistant [g]ram-positive organisms,

particularly MRSA, and may offer advantages as an alternative to

vancomycin for infections in children. " Pharmacia Corp. funded this

study. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2003;23:677-685