Effect of linezolid and vancomycin on methicillin-resistant Staphyloccus aureus infection in aged patients

Objective To compare the effect and safety of linezolid and vancomycin on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus （MRSA） infection in aged patients. Methods Clinical data about linezolid and vancomycin in treatment of 54 and 51 aged patients with MRSA infection were retrospectively analyzed. Their therapeutic effect, bacterial clearance, and adverse events were compared. Results The clinical efficacy rate for the linezolid and vancomycin groups was 75.9% and 56.9%, respectively（P＜0.05）. Conclusion The effect of linezolid on MRSA infection is better than that of vancomycin in aged patients. Thrombocytopenia is the common adverse reaction of linezolid.