Successful treatment of vancomycin-resistant enterococcus meningitis with linezolid: case report and review of the literature

Crit Care Med. 2001 Dec;29(12):2383-5. doi: 10.1097/00003246-200112000-00023.

Abstract

Objective: To describe the successful treatment of a case of vancomycin-resistant enterococcus meningitis with linezolid.

Design: Case report and review of the literature.

Patients: The patient is a 35-yr-old man who suffered a cerebellar hemorrhage after embolization of a cerebellar arteriovenous malformation. The patient underwent ventriculostomy drainage and craniectomy. The patient was on broad-spectrum antibiotics for pneumonia including vancomycin. The patient remained febrile and grew vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium from the cerebrospinal fluid.

Interventions: The patient was treated with intravenous chloramphenicol without success. On postoperative day 16, the patient was begun on intravenous linezolid.

Main results: The patient received 4 wks of intravenous linezolid with complete eradication of the meningitis.

Conclusions: Intravenous linezolid appears to be a safe and effective therapy for vancomycin-resistant enterococcus meningitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acetamides / pharmacology
  • Acetamides / therapeutic use*
  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Enterococcus faecium* / drug effects
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Linezolid
  • Male
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / drug therapy*
  • Oxazolidinones / pharmacology
  • Oxazolidinones / therapeutic use*
  • Vancomycin Resistance*
  • Ventriculostomy / adverse effects

Substances

  • Acetamides
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Oxazolidinones
  • Linezolid