Oxazolidinone antibiotics

What are Oxazolidinone antibiotics?

Oxazolidinone antibiotics are a class of synthetic antibacterial agents that act as a protein synthesis inhibitor on the ribosomal 50S subunit of the bacteria. This prevents the formation of the 70S initiation complex which is a prerequisite for bacterial reproduction. Oxazolidinones are used for gram-positive infections and can be bacteriostatic or bactericidal depending on bacteria being treated.

Oxazolidinones are a recent class of synthetic antibiotics with a chemical structure characterized by a basic nucleus of 2-oxazolidone(Figure 1) active against a wide spectrum of multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria (GPB), namely vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), MRSA and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)

Linezolid is used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria, including pneumonia and infections of the skin. Linezolid is in a class of antibacterials called oxazolidinones. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria. Antibiotics such as linezolid will not work for colds, flu, and other viral infections.

Oxazolidinones inhibit protein synthesis by binding at the P site at the ribosomal 50S subunit. Resistance to other protein synthesis inhibitors does not affect oxazolidinone activity, however rare development of oxazolidinone resistance cases, associated with 23S rRNA alterations during treatment have been reported.

Linezolid, posizolid, and radezolid are examples of oxazolidinones (Bozdogan and Appelbaum, 2004; Schwalbe et al., 2007).