[Myelosupression induced by linezolid: a pediatric case]

Linezolid is an antibiotic of oxazolidinones family that inhibits proteical synthesis. It is used in several Gram-positive multirresistent infections. Its more frequent side effects are gastrointestinal, followed by peripheral neuropathy and myelosuppression. We report the case of a 12-year-old boy diagnosed with septic osteoarthritis of the hip and femoral osteomyelitis, following treatment with linezolid, who complained about digestive intolerance and weight loss. He showed severe normocytic anemia and mild leukopenia and thrombocytopenia with data of hematopoiesis disorder in the blood smear that suggested drug toxicity. These findings reverted when the treatment was discontinued. Reversible myelosuppression associated with linezolid is related to long treatments (more than 28 days). So it is necessary to check the blood count during long treatments.