Pharmacokinetics and intrapulmonary concentrations of linezolid administered to critically ill patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia*

Abstract

Our study shows satisfactory results, with linezolid concentrations exceeding the susceptibility breakpoint for Gram-positive bacteria in both plasma and epithelial lining fluid. This suggests that a dosage of 600 mg administered intravenously twice daily to critically ill patients with Gram-positive ventilator-associated pneumonia would achieve success against organisms with minimum inhibitory concentrations as high as 2-4 mg/L in both plasma and epithelial lining fluid.