Preliminary susceptibility testing guidelines for AZD2563, a long-acting oxazolidinone

Rapid expansion of antimicrobial resistance has led to the development of new antimicrobial agents. AZD2563 is a novel oxazolidinone that has activity similar to linezolid and the potential for extended dosing intervals. Recent Gram-positive clinical organisms (1572 strains) were tested including four oxazolidinone-resistant enterococci. Strains processed were: 313 Staphylococcus aureus, 299 coagulase-negative staphylococci, 305 enterococci, 305 Streptococcus pneumoniae, 300 other streptococci (beta-haemolytic and viridans group) and 50 other rarely isolated Gram-positive species. The methods (agar and broth dilution, disk diffusion) of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS; M7-A6, M2-A8) were followed and linezolid was used as a control agent. A tentative MIC breakpoint (or=20 mm), intermediate at 4 mg/l (17-19 mm) and resistant at >or=8 mg/l (