Grand RoundPeripheral neuropathy associated with prolonged use of linezolid
Section snippets
Case presentation
The patient is a 46-year-old white woman with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obstructive sleep apnoea, first hospitalised with respiratory failure at another facility in February 2002. During that hospitalisation, she developed catheter-associated bacteraemia with meticillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) complicated by osteomyelitis at the T9-T10 vertebrae. The site was surgically debrided several times and the woman eventually underwent spinal fusion with
Review and discussion
Before its release in 2002, the only significant toxicity identified in clinical trials of linezolid was a low incidence of myelosuppresion.1 As with any medication, widespread use after release provides greater opportunity to identify rare side effects. A review of the most recent published material as well as abstracts identified by the manufacturer show a small but concerning body of evidence linking linezolid to serious peripheral neuropathy.
The largest published series of linezolid use
References (15)
- et al.
Multi-system infection with Nocardia farcinica therapy with linezolid and minocycline
J Infect
(2003) Antibiotic side effects
Med Clin North Am
(2001)- et al.
Linezolid for the treatment of multidrug-resistant, gram-positive infections: experience from a compassionate use program
Clin Infect Dis
(2003) - et al.
Linezolid-induced neuropathy
Med J Aust
(2002) - et al.
Linezolid-associated toxic optic neuropathy: a report of two cases
Clin Infect Dis
(2003) - et al.
Clinical experience with linezolid for the treatment of Nocardia infection
Clin Infect Dis
(2003) - et al.
Linezolid-induced lactic acidosis
N Engl J Med
(2003)
Cited by (207)
Linezolid toxic optic neuropathy: A case report and review of visual prognosis
2023, American Journal of Ophthalmology Case ReportsLInezolid Monitoring to MInimise Toxicity (LIMMIT1): A multicentre retrospective review of patients receiving linezolid therapy and the impact of therapeutic drug monitoring
2023, International Journal of Antimicrobial AgentsLong-term use of tedizolid for pulmonary nocardiosis
2022, Journal of Infection and ChemotherapyLinezolid-induced lactic acidosis
2024, BMJ Case ReportsPreclinical toxicity evaluation of novel antibacterial contezolid acefosamil in rats and dogs
2024, Journal of Applied ToxicologyTreatment outcome, recurrence and safety of multidrug-resistant TB treated with low-dose linezolid
2023, International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease