Linezolid Plus Standard of Care

Inclusion criteria: * Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) grown from at least one blood culture * Hospitalised at a participating centre * ≥18 years old * Written informed consent or fulfilling criteria for an emergency exception from informed consent requirements Exclusion criteria: * Administration of the initial drug treatment not feasible within 72 hours since the collection of the first positive blood culture with S. aureus * Documented history of positive blood cultures for S. aureus occurring between 72 hours and 180 days prior to the eligibility assessment * Necrotising fasciitis * Currently receiving linezolid or clindamycin * Use of any monoamine oxidase A or B inhibitor within the last two weeks * Known hypersensitivity to linezolid or any other ingredients of the study drugs * Current severe thrombocytopenia (i.e. \<30 x 10\^9/L) * Application of study drug not possible (per mouth or per gastric tube) * Currently breastfeeding * Local treating team believes that death is imminent and inevitable * Patient is receiving end of life care and antibiotic treatment is not considered appropriate * Local treating team believes that participation in the study is not in the best interest of the patient * Any indication that the patient is unwilling to participate in the study including an advance directive stating such unwillingness