There are antibiotic options for treating MRSA and linezolid is one of them. Caution is used when choosing which antibiotics to prevent new resistant strains from developing. Vancomycin (Vancocin) is a commonly prescribed antibiotic for this type of staph infection, but there are some cases of resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Linezolid is an alternative that is effective and has also proven to outperform vancomycin in some cases.
About
This antibiotic is not used routinely and commonly reserved for serious infections and ones that are resistant to other antibiotics. MRSA is a staph infection that is resistant to a number of antibiotics, so It wasn’t approved for use until the year 2000 even though it was discovered in the 1990’s. Linezolid is used to treat pneumonia, diabetic related infections, skin infections, soft tissue infections, and deep infections. A course of treatment, which is 20-600mg tablets, is expensive. This treatment can cost as much as $2000 dollars. Commonly it is prescribed 2x a day for 10 to 28 days to treat an infection. It is also known by the following names:
- Zyvox (United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and several other countries)
- Zyvoxid (Europe)
- Zyvoxam (Canada and Mexico)
- Linospan (generic name in India)
There are bacteria that have developed a resistance to Linezolid, but they are very rare. This antibiotic is safe for patients with liver disease and poor kidney function. There are some side effects that may be experienced when taking this antibiotic for MRSA.
Side Effects
Fewer side effects are experienced when the treatment duration is short. For long-term treatment, the benefits will need to be weighed against the seriousness of the side effects. Linezolid for MRSA treatment may cause the following side effects:
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Upset stomach/vomiting
- Sleeping problems
- Constipation
- Rash
- Dizziness
- Fever
When the side effects become severe or if you are concerned, contact your doctor. The following side effects can be serious and you should consult your healthcare professional as soon as possible:
- Severe diarrhea
- Signs of infection (fever, sore throat, etc.)
- Lethargy
- Unusual bleeding or bruising
- Pale skin
There is an increase risk of side effects the longer the antibiotic is taken and if there are other health issues. There are alternatives to using Linezolid.
Alternatives
Linesolid is an antibiotic that is held in reserve. This means it is used when nothing else is working. It is not used routinely to avoid resistant strains of bacteria developing. Other antibiotics will be used for MRSA including the following:
In addition to treating with other antibiotics, treatment may also include drainage, lancing, or surgery to remove the infected tissue. There are home remedies (Manuka Honey: Using It For MRSA Treatment?), but due to the seriousness of this infection when it spreads, is recommended that treatment is monitored by a healthcare professional. Since there are no guarantees that linezolid will be effective in treating a stubborn, resistant staph infection, prompt treatment is highly recommended.