Renal Replacement Therapy and Concurrent Fluconazole Therapy Increase Linezolid-Related Thrombocytopenia Among Adult Patients

Abstract

Background: Linezolid, an antibiotic used against gram-positive pathogens, has been reported to be associated with thrombocytopenia. However, limited information is available on susceptibility to thrombocytopenia after linezolid usage. We aimed to investigate the risk factors for linezolid-associated thrombocytopenia. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients aged ≥ 18 years who received linezolid for ≥ 5 d during hospitalization in 2019. Demographic information, hospitalized information and laboratory data were extracted from electronic medical records. Thrombocytopenia was defined as a platelet count of <100,000 cells/mm3 or a reduction from baseline ≥ 25%. Binary logistic regression and survival analyses were used to evaluate the risk factors for linezolid-associated thrombocytopenia.Results: A total of 98 patients were enrolled. Thrombocytopenia occurred in 52 patients (53.1%), with a median first presentation 9 d after initiation of linezolid. There was no significant difference in the mortality or proportion of platelet transfusions between patients with and without thrombocytopenia. A higher risk of linezolid-associated thrombocytopenia was found in patients who received renal replacement therapy (RRT) (OR 4.8 [1.4-16.4]), concurrent fluconazole (OR 3.5 [1.2-9.8]), or a longer duration of linezolid treatment (OR 1.1 [1.0-1.1]). Patients who received RRT or concurrent fluconazole therapy had a shorter median time to develop thrombocytopenia (with vs. without RRT: 8 vs. 15 d; with vs. without fluconazole: 11 vs. 15 d). Those who simultaneously received RRT and fluconazole had the shortest median of time (6.5 d) and the highest risk of developing thrombocytopenia (87.5%).Conclusions: Patients who received RRT, concurrent fluconazole treatment, or a longer-duration linezolid had a higher risk of developing linezolid-associated thrombocytopenia.