Two new treatment options for infections due to drug-resistant gram-positive cocci.

Gram-positive cocci, including enterococci and Staphylococcus aureus, have become the leading cause of hospital-acquired infections, and their resistance to antibiotics is increasing. Two important new drugs-quinupristin/dalfopristin (Synercid) and linezolid (Zyvox)-were designed specifically to treat infections due to drug-resistant gram-positive cocci. But their use must be tempered by their cost, toxicity, and concerns about further development of resistant strains.