Linezolid

Adults: Linezolid tablets can be taken by mouth, with or without food. Linezolid IV infusion should be given by intravenous infusion over 30 to 120 minutes. The recommended daily dosage for Linezolid tablets and IV infusion is as follows: For nosocomial pneumonia: pediatric patients from birth through 11 years of age should receive 10 mg per kg orally or intravenously every 8 hours; adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older should receive 600 mg orally or intravenously every 12 hours; treatment should continue for 10 to 14 consecutive days. For community acquired pneumonia (including cases with concurrent bacteremia) and for complicated skin and skin structure infections: pediatric patients from birth through 11 years of age should receive 10 mg per kg orally or intravenously every 8 hours; adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older should receive 600 mg orally or intravenously every 12 hours; treatment should continue for 14 to 28 consecutive days. For uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections: children under 5 years should receive 10 mg per kg orally every 8 hours, and children aged 5 to 11 years should receive 10 mg per kg orally every 12 hours; adults should receive 400 mg orally every 12 hours, while adolescents should receive 600 mg orally every 12 hours; treatment should continue for 10 to 14 consecutive days. Note on neonates under 7 days old: most pre-term neonates under 7 days of age (gestational age under 34 weeks) have lower systemic linezolid clearance and larger AUC values than many full term neonates and older infants. These neonates should start on 10 mg per kg every 12 hours. In neonates with a less than ideal clinical response, a regimen of 10 mg per kg every 8 hours may be considered. By 7 days of life, all neonatal patients should be receiving 10 mg per kg every 8 hours. No dose adjustment is needed when switching from intravenous to oral administration. Regarding intravenous administration: the IV infusion should be checked visually against a light source for particulate matter before it is given. It may show a yellow color that can deepen over time without any loss of potency. Do not connect this IV infusion vial in series with other vials, and do not add any other substances to the solution. Any unused portion should be discarded after a single use. Regarding hepatic impairment: no dose adjustment is needed for patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment. Linezolid's pharmacokinetics have not been studied in patients with severe hepatic impairment. Regarding use in children and adolescents: dosing for this age group is described above. Using linezolid as empiric treatment for pediatric patients with central nervous system infections is not recommended.