A novel antibiotic, linezolid, reduces intraperitoneal adhesion formation in the rat uterine horn model.

Objective: To examine the effects of linezolid in prevention of adhesion formation in a rat uterine horn model.

Design: Prospective randomized study.

Setting: University Experimental Animal Research Laboratory Center.

Sample: Ninety female Wistar albino rats.

Methods: A dose response study was first conducted with 60 Wistar albino rats that were randomly assigned to six equal groups by administering vehicle (control), 5 mg/kg (Group 1), 15 mg/kg (Group 2), 50 mg/kg (Group 3), 100 mg/kg (Group 4), and 150 mg/kg (Group 5) linezolid starting three days before the adhesion inducing operation and continuing for 14 days postoperatively. Adhesion was scored clinically with a scoring system. The minimum effective dose was found to be 100 mg/kg/day. With this dose time response (starting three days before the operation and continuing for seven days), only preoperative and postoperative administration studies were conducted.

Main Outcome Measures: Extent and severity of adhesions.

Results: Total adhesion scores in the control and Groups 1 and 2 were significantly higher when compared with Groups 4 and 5, but not with Group 3. There were no significant differences in the adhesion scores between Groups 3, 4, and 5. In time response arm a total of 10 days treatment was not as effective as 17 days treatment. In postoperative and preoperative arms of the study, it was found that administration of linezolid only postoperatively or preoperatively did not affect adhesion formation significantly when compared with the control group.

Conclusion: Linezolid was found to reduce intraperitoneal adhesion formation.