The use of linezolid in the treatment of vancomycin-resistant enterococcal septicaemia in two patients with burn injuries

• Published in: Burns Vol. 28; no. 2; pp. 185 - 188
• Main Authors: Atkins, J.L., Hidvegi, N., Teare, L., Dziewulski, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2002; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Acetamides - therapeutic use; Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Antibacterial agents; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Biological and medical sciences; Burns; Burns - complications; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Enterococcus - drug effects; Humans; Linezolid; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Oxazolidinones - therapeutic use; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Sepsis - complications; Sepsis - drug therapy; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Vancomycin - therapeutic use; Vancomycin-resistant enterococci; Linezolid; Burns; Vancomycin-resistant enterococci; Enterococcus; Human; Peptides; Septicemia; Treatment efficiency; Vancomycin; Trauma; Infection; Burn; Case study; Streptococcaceae; Antibiotic; Microorganism resistance; Treatment; Glycopeptide; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Micrococcales
• ISSN: 0305-4179; 1879-1409
• DOI: 10.1016/S0305-4179(01)00082-1

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are multi-resistant micro-organisms that have emerged as important nosocomial pathogens during the last decade. Emergence of this organism has been blamed mainly on the increased and inappropriate use of antibiotics, in particular, the cephalosporins and the glycopeptide, vancomycin. Burns patients are highly vulnerable to acquiring VRE infections, being both debilitated and immunocompromised, and often receiving antibiotics that further diminish their intrinsic microbial flora. We report on two patients with large burn injuries who acquired vancomycin-resistant enterococcal septicaemia during their in-patient stay. Both patients were successfully treated using the antibiotic, linezolid. Linezolid is the first in a new class of antibiotics known as the oxazolidinones whose mode of action inhibits early bacterial protein synthesis. Linezolid has a spectrum of activity against Gram-positive micro-organisms including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and VRE, and can provide a useful treatment alternative to the glycopeptides.