LINEZOLID AND ITS ROLE IN DRUG RESISTANT ENDODONTIC INFECTIONS: A REVIEW

With fast emerging multiple drug resistant infections in dentistry, every dentist should be aware of drugs available to treat such infections.Linezolid is an oxazolidinone antibacterial agent that acts by inhibiting the initiation of bacterial protein synthesis. It has a wide spectrum of activity against gram-positive organisms including methicillin resistant staphylococci, penicillin resistant pneumococci and vancomycin resistant enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium. Linezolid has a good bio-availability orally and could be switched from parenteral to oral therapy while treating serious infections. The drug is well tolerated in both adults and children with a relatively good safety profile. It can also be used as an intracanal medicament to sterilize root canals in failed endodontic treatment. This article spotlights the salient features of this relatively safe drug with very few drug interactions.