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Available online 29 September 2025
Linezolid continuous infusion protects from subtherapeutic linezolid concentrations in critically ill patients
La administración de linezolid en infusión continua protege del riesgo de concentración subterapéutica de linezolid en pacientes críticos
Leonardo Lorentea,
, Jonathan González Garcíab, Sergio Pérez Reyesb, Cristo Yared Pérez Martínb, Mario Rodína, Santiago Vieraa, Alejandro Jiménezc
a Department of Critical Care, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Ofra s/n, La Cuesta, La Laguna, 38320 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
b Department of Pharmacy, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Ofra s/n, La Cuesta, La Laguna, 38320 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
c Research Unit, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Ofra s/n, La Cuesta, La Laguna, 38320 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
Received 04 April 2025. Accepted 02 July 2025
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Tables (2)
Table 1. Comparisons between patients with and without subtherapeutic linezolid concentrations.
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Table 2. Multiple logistic regression analyses to predict subtherapeutic linezolid concentrations.
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Abstract
Objective

Different studies have determined blood linezolid concentrations. However, the largest studies reporting data on factors associated with subtherapeutic linezolid concentrations in critically ill patients account for less than 60 patients. Thus, the objective of our study was to determine what factors were associated with subtherapeutic linezolid concentrations in critically ill patients in a larger series of patients.

Design

Historical cohort study.

Setting

One Spanish Intensive Care Unit.

Patients

Critically ill adult patients who received linezolid due to suspected or confirmed infection by multidrug-drug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria during 2022 and 2023.

Interventions

Blood samples were collected to determine linezolid concentrations (Cmin) immediately before dosing after at least 48 h from starting linezolid therapy.

Main variable of interest

Subtherapeutic linezolid concentrations.

Results

We included a total of 168 patients. We found 79 (47.0%) patients with and 89 (53.0%) patients without subtherapeutic linezolid concentrations. Multiple logistic regression showed that linezolid continuous infusion (OR = 0.192; 95% CI = 0.053–0.694; P = .01) and older age (OR = 0.952; 95% CI = 0.926–0.980; P = .001) were associated with lower risk of subtherapeutic linezolid concentrations.

Conclusions

As far as we know, this is the largest study reporting data on factors associated with subtherapeutic linezolid concentrations in critically ill patients. To our knowledge, our study is the first to report that linezolid continuous infusion was independently associated with lower risk of subtherapeutic linezolid concentrations in critically ill patients.

Keywords:
Linezolid
Continuous infusion
Intermittent infusion
Subtherapeutic concentrations
Critically ill patients
Abbreviations:
APACHE
aPTT
COPD
CrCL
GOT
GPT
ICU
INR
PaO2/FIO2
Resumen
Objetivo

En varios estudios se han determinado los niveles sanguíneos de linezolid. Sin embargo, los estudios de mayor tamaño muestral que reportaron datos sobre los factores asociados con concentraciones subterapéuticas de linezolid en pacientes críticos incluyeron menos de 60 pacientes. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de este estudio consiste en determinar que factores se asocian con concentraciones subterapéuticas en pacientes críticos en una serie de mayor tamaño muestral.

Diseño

Estudio de cohortes histórico.

Ámbito

Una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos española.

Pacientes

Pacientes críticos adultos que recibieron tratamiento con linezolid por la sospecha o confirmación de infección por bacterias grampositivas multirresistentes durante 2022 y 2023.

Intervenciones

Se tomaron muestras sanguíneas para determinar los niveles valle de linezolid después de 48 horas de haber iniciado el tratamiento con linezolid e inmediatamente antes de la siguiente dosis.

Variable de interés principal

Concentración subterapéutica de linezolid.

Resultados

Se incluyeron un total de 168 pacientes, 79 (47.0%) con y 89 (53.0%) sin concentración subterapéutica de linezolid. El análisis de regresión logistica mostró que la administración de linezolid en infusión continua (OR = 0.192; 95% CI = 0.053–0.694; P = .01) y mayor edad (OR = 0.952; 95% CI = 0.926–0.980; P = .001) se asociaron con un menor riesgo de concentración subterapéutica.

Conclusiones

Que nosotros sepamos, este es el estudio de mayor tamaño muestral reportando datos sobre los factores que se asocian con concentraciones subterapéuticas de linezolid en pacientes críticos. Que nosotros sepamos, este es el primer estudio que reporta que la administración de linezolid en infusión continua reduce el riesgo de concentración subterapéutica en pacientes críticos.

Palabras clave:
Linezolid
Infusión continua
Infusión intermitente
Concentración subterapéutica
Pacientes críticos

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