Please note: This is for information only.

Refer to local guidelines for treatment recommendations.

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• A new oxazolidinone antibiotic
• Excellent bioavailability when given orally.
• Usual adult dose: 600mg twelve hourly – oral or IV
• Usual duration 10-14 days not advised for treatment of longer that 28 days.
• No dosage reduction necessary if renal impairment
• A reversible, non-selective inhibitor of monoamine oxidase. Has no antidepressive activity at antibacterial doses.

 

Precautions (for complete list see manufacturer's datasheet.)

Patient should be advised to avoid tyramine-rich foods (dietary advice sheet  GHNHSFT intranet). Close monitoring of blood pressure required if taking MAOIs, SSRIs, TCAs, dopaminergics, pethidine, or if patient has uncontrolled hypertension, thyrotoxicosis, bipolar depressive disorder or schizophrenia. Check full blood count weekly for all patients during therapy – myelosuppression possible. Patients should be advised to report any visual impairment such as changes in acuity, colour vision or field defects. Patients who require >28 days therapy should have regular formal visual assessments. Treatment may only be continued beyond 28 days on the advice of a Consultant and the rationale for extended treatment should be clearly documented in the patient's medical record. Patients should be advised to report any signs of neuropathy, anaemia, thrombocytopenia or lactic acidosis.

Main indications:

• Microbiology advice only– restricted agent
• Resistant enterococcal infections (VRE).
• Resistant staphylococcal infections.

Active against most strains of:

• Enterococcus
• Staphylococcus aureus – including MRSA
• Streptococcus
• Anaerobes

Not active against most strains of:

• Haemophilus influenzae
• Moraxella
• Neisseria spp
• Pseudomonas
• E coli
• Klebsiella