Linezolid facts for kids

Linezolid is a special type of medicine called an antibiotic. It helps to fight serious infections caused by tiny living things called bacteria. It's especially useful for infections that other antibiotics can't heal anymore.

Linezolid works against many types of bacteria that cause sickness. These include bacteria like streptococci and MRSA, which is a tough kind of bacteria. Doctors mainly use Linezolid to treat infections of the skin and a lung infection called pneumonia.

It is usually safe to take Linezolid for short periods of time.

What is Linezolid?

Linezolid is an antibiotic. It is part of a group of medicines called Oxazolidinone antibiotics. These medicines stop bacteria from growing and spreading. This helps your body fight off the infection and get better.

Linezolid is very important because it can treat infections that are resistant to other common antibiotics. This means that some bacteria have learned to ignore other medicines, but Linezolid can still stop them.

Discovery and Approval

Linezolid was discovered in the 1990s. A team of scientists at the Pharmacia & Upjohn Company found this new medicine. After many tests, it was approved for use in the year 2000. This meant doctors could start using it to help patients.

Important Medicine

Linezolid is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. This list includes the most important medicines needed for a basic health system around the world. Being on this list shows how valuable Linezolid is for treating serious infections.

In some places, like the United States, Linezolid can be quite expensive. For example, one tablet might cost around US$100.