LEADER Program results for 2009: an activity and spectrum analysis of linezolid using 6,414 clinical isolates from 56 medical centers in the United States

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2011 Aug;55(8):3684-90. doi: 10.1128/AAC.01729-10. Epub 2011 Jun 13.

Abstract

The LEADER Program monitors the in vitro activity of linezolid in sampled U.S. medical centers using reference broth microdilution methods with supporting molecular investigations in a central laboratory design. This report summarizes data obtained in 2009, the 6th consecutive year of this longitudinal study. A total of 6,414 isolates from 56 medical centers in all nine Census regions across the United States participated in 2009. For the six leading species/groups, the following linezolid MIC(90) values were observed: Staphylococcus aureus, 2 μg/ml; coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), 1 μg/ml; Enterococcus spp., 2 μg/ml; Streptococcus pneumoniae, 1 μg/ml; viridans group streptococci, 1 μg/ml; and beta-hemolytic streptococci, 1 μg/ml. Linezolid resistance was only 0.34% overall, with no evidence of significant increase in the LEADER Program since 2006. The predominant linezolid resistant mechanism found was a G2576T mutation in the 23S rRNA. L3/L4 riboprotein mutations were also found. The mobile multidrug-resistant cfr gene was found in four strains (two S. aureus strains and one strain each of S. epidermidis and S. capitis) from four different states, suggesting persistence but a lack of dissemination. Linezolid continues to exhibit excellent activity and spectrum, and this study documents the need for continued monitoring of emerging mechanisms of resistance over a wide geographic area.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetamides / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / genetics
  • Enterococcus / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Interspersed Repetitive Sequences
  • Linezolid
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Oxazolidinones / pharmacology*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / genetics
  • Staphylococcus / drug effects*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Streptococcus / drug effects*
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / drug effects
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / drug effects
  • United States
  • Viridans Streptococci / drug effects

Substances

  • Acetamides
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Oxazolidinones
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 23S
  • Linezolid