Relationship between cytopenia and gestational age in infants and neonates treated with linezolid therapy

Linezolid has been the common antimicrobial treatment for Gram-positive infection even in neonates and infants. Major adverse events associated with linezolid treatment is cytopenia. However, there were few reports about the relationship between cytopenia and gestational age. Primary objective of this study was to compare the relationship between cytopenia in infants and neonates treated with linezolid therapy and gestational age.

In total, 44 patients were divided into two groups depend on their gestational age [<180 days; low gestational age group (20 patients); >180 days group; high gestational age group (24 patients)]. All patients treated with linezolid from April 2014 to March 2018 at NICU or GCU of Aichi Medical University Hospital. Investigation items were as follows; sex, age, weight, duration of treatment, Apgar score, laboratory data, rate of patients with blood transfusion, concomitant medications, hematologic abnormalities during linezolid treatment.

The incidence of overall cytopenia in low gestational age group was significantly higher than high gestational age group (65.0 % vs. 25.0 %; p < 0.05). Of note, the incidence of thrombocytopenia in low gestational age group showed significantly higher than high gestational age group (45.0% vs. 8.3%, p < 0.05). Then, the proportion of patients occurred thrombocytopenia who received linezolid 10 mg/kg every 8 h were higher than 10 mg/kg every 12 h in both groups.

In cases linezolid is administered three times a day should be more carefully of thrombocytopenia in patients with gestational days less than 180 days.