Introduction:

Linezolid is an antimicrobial from the group of oxazolidinones, developed in the 1990s, being the first marketed in its group in the early 2000s. It is indicated, according to the data sheet, in the treatment of nosocomial pneumonia. and community-acquired pneumonia, when known or suspected to be caused by gram positive bacteria, and in the treatment of complicated skin and soft tissue infections with certain gram positive organisms. Due to its good pharmacokinetics, profitability and aforementioned indications, it has gained special importance both in hospital and outpatient settings.

Subjects and methods:

A retrospective prescription-indication drug use study was carried out at the Central Defense Hospital (HCD) «Gómez Ulla», during the month of September 2019, with the objective of knowing the pattern of use of linezolid (indications, adequacy or not to the data sheet, dosage regimen, route of administration used, suspected adverse drug reactions, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the patients). The type of test was non-probabilistic consecutive. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 25.0 computer program.

Results:

A total of 28 patients received at least one dose of linezolid during the month of September 2019. IPPB was the most prevalent indication (53.5%) (15/28) followed by pneumonia (28.5%) (8/28). It was not adapted in 5 cases (17.8%) (5/28) to the indications of the data sheet: Complicated Urinary Tract Infection (3/5), Complicated Intra-abdominal Infection (1/5) and febrile syndrome without source (1/5).

The infection was considered nosocomial in 32% (9/28) of the cases, 57% (16/28) of the sample had plasma creatinine ≥ 1.2mg/dl at the start of treatment. The dose used was 600 mg/12 h in all patients, with a median duration of treatment of 9.5 days. The intravenous route of administration was used in 71% of the cases (20 cases), among these cases in 10% of the patients (2/20) sequential therapy was not performed despite the fact that there was no contraindication for it. No adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were detected with linezolid during the study.

Conclusions:

The absence of significant deviations regarding indications and dosage regimen of linezolid is shown. A possible informative intervention regarding the sequential therapy of this antibiotic is objectified, improving its use and patient safety.