Linezolid for treatment of catheter-related cerebrospinal fluid infections in preterm infants.

Ventriculostomy-related cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) infection remains a major problem in neonatal intensive care. The spectrum of pathogens causing these infections is dominated by coagulase-negative staphylococci, and vancomycin is the antibiotic of choice for treatment. However, vancomycin is known to have only poor penetration into the CSF when applied intravenously and is therefore being applied intraventricularly. The oxazolidinone linezolid has antibacterial activity against most drug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria and has been shown to have excellent penetration into the CSF in adults. Here, its successful use in five neonates with infected ventriculostomies is described.