CRD Summary: This review assessed the effectiveness of linezolid for the treatment of patients with central nervous system infections. The authors concluded linezolid may be considered for the treatment of these infections where previously administered treatment has failed or where there are limited available options, but that data was limited. Owing to methodological limitations these conclusions may not be reliable.

CRD Commentary: The review addressed a clear question and was supported by appropriate inclusion criteria. Three electronic databases were searched, along with reference lists, to identify relevant studies. However, the authors made little attempt to identify unpublished studies and they did not report whether any language restrictions were applied, so the possibility of publication bias and language bias cannot be excluded. The authors did not report the methods used for study selection or data extraction, so there may be reviewer bias and error. The validity of the included studies was not formally assessed. Study details were tabulated with adequate information on participant characteristics and treatment regimen, but the details of study results were limited and adverse events were only described in the text. In view of the nature of the included studies and differences between studies, a narrative synthesis was appropriate. The authors' cautious conclusions reflect the evidence presented but owing to the lack of reporting of review methods, the potential for publication and language bias and the lack of validity assessment, these conclusions may not be reliable.