Background:

The treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has traditionally been unsuccessful. This is a multifactorial problem influenced by the poor effectiveness of some of the drugs in the scheme, loss to follow-up and adverse reactions to drugs. Linezolid is a drug that has been shown to be effective in patients with drug-resistant TB, but it has been little used in Mexico because of its high cost and high rate of adverse effects reported in the literature.

Material and methods:

Retrospective analysis of cases treated with linezolid due to drug-resistant tuberculosis or adverse reaction in a clinic specializing in tuberculosis.

Results:

In 11 patients who received linezolid due to drug-resistant tuberculosis or mycobacteriosis, we found only one case with an adverse reaction (anemia) that responded to treatment with erythropoietin.

Conclusions:

Adverse reactions with linezolid at doses of 600 mg/day in our limited experience were uncommon (9%).