2011 Volume 2 Issue 1 Pages 127-130
The oxazolidinone linezolid is an antibacterial drug used for treating infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. Linezolid clearance is known to occur via non-enzymatic reactions and non-renal elimination and can also be achieved by renal replacement therapy involving the metabolites of linezolid. Therefore, the adjustment of linezolid dosage is not needed in patients with renal dysfunction and in those undergoing renal replacement therapy. However, information on linezolid clearance in patients undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy is limited. Hence, we measured linezolid clearance in patients undergoing continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVH). We found that the plasma concentration of linezolid was high in 3 patients. The elimination half-life and total clearance of linezolid were 13.0h, 11.0h, and 11.0h and 4.2L/h, 3.6L/h, and 4.5L/h, respectively, in the 3 patients. These results suggested that linezolid was not always removed by CVVH. Furthermore, 2 patients developed thrombocytopenia as a frequent side effect of linezolid. The high plasma concentration of linezolid might have induced the thrombocytopenia. Hence, clinicians should be aware of the side effect of linezolid in patients undergoing CVVH.
