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Published on: August 30, 2018
Lactate abnormalities during intravenous linezolid therapy in hospitalized children: a brief report
Taha Ikram Ozsumbul1, Osman Oguz Demir2, Kubra Aykac2
1Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Linezolid treatment in children frequently causes lactate abnormalities, including hyperlactatemia and lactic acidosis. Younger children and those with complex conditions are more susceptible, requiring careful monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Pharmacology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Linezolid is a critical antibiotic for severe gram-positive infections in children.
- Limited data exist on linezolid's metabolic adverse effects in pediatric populations.
- Lactate abnormalities are a known potential side effect of linezolid.
Abstract:
Linezolid is commonly used in children for the treatment of severe gram-positive infections; however, data on metabolic adverse effects remain limited. We evaluated lactate abnormalities in pediatric patients receiving intravenous linezolid. Among 215 children, hyperlactatemia/lactic acidosis occurred in 55.8%. Hyperlactatemia and/or lactic acidosis tended to develop early after treatment initiation and was more frequently observed in younger children and in those with complex underlying conditions, including neurometabolic and hemato-oncologic disorders. These findings suggest that host-related factors may influence susceptibility to lactate disturbances during linezolid therapy and support careful clinical monitoring in selected pediatric populations.
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