Inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-8 and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α) concentrations in lung (A) and spleen (B) homogenates 24 hours after tracheal instillation of saline (controls) 109 CFU of Staphylococcus aureus in either spontaneously breathing rabbits or animals subjected to mechanical ventilation with various treatment combinations. Values are presented as means (SD). 2-way ANOVA test was used for all intergroup comparisons with Tukey’s adjustment for multiple comparisons. CFU: colony forming unit; MRSA: methicilline-resistant S. aureus; LNZ: linezolid; SB: spontaneously breathing; MV: mechanical ventilation; SD: standard deviation.