Thrombocytopenia is the most common serious haematological adverse effect of linezolid, and it is reported far more often when kidney function is reduced. This narrative review draws on published trials, cohort studies, pharmacokinetic work and case reports to describe how linezolid is handled by the body, why platelet counts fall, which factors raise the risk, and how the event is recognised and managed. Accumulation of the drug and its metabolites, longer courses and critical illness emerge as recurring explanations. Evidence for dose reduction and drug monitoring is promising but based mostly on observational data. The article reports no individual patient and no new data.
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Thibaudeau et al. (2026) studied this question.
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