In vitro activity of tedizolid and linezolid against Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from prosthetic joint infections

Prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) are rare but long-lasting and are serious complications without any spontaneous resolution, requiring additional surgery and long-term treatment with antibiotics. Staphylococci are the most important aetiological agents of PJIs, and among the coagulase-negative staphylococci Staphylococcus epidermidis is the most common. However, S. epidermidis often displays multidrug resistance (MDR), demanding additional treatment options. The objective was to examine the effectiveness of tedizolid and linezolid against S. epidermidis isolated from PJIs. The standard antibiotic susceptibility pattern of S. epidermidis (n = 183) obtained from PJIs was determined by disc diffusion test, and MIC was determined by Etest for tedizolid, linezolid, and vancomycin. Tedizolid displayed MIC values ranging from 0.094 to 0.5 mg/L (MIC(50): 0.19 mg/L, MIC(90): 0.38 mg/L), linezolid MIC values ranging from 0.25 to 2 mg/L (MIC(50): 0.75 mg/L, MIC(90): 1 mg/L), and vancomycin MIC values ranging from 0.5 to 3 mg/L (MIC(50) and MIC(90) both 2 mg/L). According to the disc diffusion test, 153/183 (84%) isolates were resistant to ≥3 antibiotic groups, indicating MDR. In conclusion, S. epidermidis isolates from PJIs were fully susceptible, and the MIC(50) and MIC(90) values for tedizolid were two- to four-fold dilution steps lower compared with linezolid. Tedizolid is not approved, and there are no reports of long-term treatment, but it may display better tolerability and fewer adverse effects than linezolid; it thus could be a possible treatment option for PJIs, alone or in combination with rifampicin.