Linezolid treatment of prosthetic hip infections due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Prosthetic joint infection is an infrequent but serious complication of total joint arthroplasty. Complete removal of all foreign material is essential, however when prosthesis removal is not possible or is contraindicated, suppressive antibiotic therapy with retention of the functioning hip arthroplasty may be considered. Linezolid, the first approved oxazolidinone, appears to be a promising new agent for the treatment of serious gram-positive infections. We report two cases of prosthetic hip infections with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that were successfully treated with long courses of linezolid. This observation suggests that linezolid is a promising drug for the treatment of prosthetic joint infections due to MRSA or other gram-positive bacteria, particularly when other therapeutic approaches are not feasible or a long-term antibiotic therapy is required.