Effect of linezolid on platelet count in critically ill patients with thrombocytopenia.

Abstract

IntroductionLinezolid (LZD) is one of the antibiotics used to treat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. In Japan, the dose of LZD is not generally adjusted by renal function or therapeutic drug monitoring and is readily available for critically ill patients. The adverse effects of LZD include pancytopenia, especially thrombocytopenia. We investigated the effect of LZD on platelet counts in critically ill patients with thrombocytopenia during admission to the intensive care unit (ICU).MethodsFifty-five critically ill patients with existing thrombocytopenia (platelet count ResultsMean (± standard error) platelet count prior to initiation of LZD was 47 ± 4 ×103 /uL, which increased significantly to 86 ± 13 ×103 /uL on day 15 (pConclusionThrombocytopenia in critically ill patients in the ICU did not worsen after initiation of LZD therapy, and may be considered for the treatment of MRSA in this setting.