Progress on the resistance mechanism of Enterococcus to linezolid

Enterococcus is an opportunistic pathogen of nosocomial infection. In recent years, the resistance rate of Enterococcus to antimicrobial agents is increasing with the widespread use of antibiotics, even leading to the development of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus(VRE). Linezolid is a synthetic oxazolidinone antibiotic, which less likely to generates the cross-resistance with other antimicrobial agents that inhibit bacterial protein synthesis, so it has been regarded as the last line of defense for VRE. However, since the linezolid has appeared on the market, the reports of linezolid- resistant Enterococcus have also emerged. This article reviews the resistance mechanisms of Enterococcus to linezolid in order to provide reference for resistance surveillance as well as the research and development of new antimicrobial agents. Key words: Enterococcus; Vancomycin-resistance; Linezolid; Drug resistance