The prescribing changes illustrate the growing concern over rising vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentrations of MRSA in hospitals. For example, a recent study identified a new strain of vancomycin-resistant MRSA that caused a bloodstream infection in a Brazilian patient. Despite these concerns, vancomycin remains the standard-of-care antibiotic for treating MRSA infections, DRG found.
DRG’s survey of 100 infectious disease specialists who treated a minimum of 10 MRSA patients in the last month also revealed the following three MRSA treatment trends:
• Hospital-acquired and community-acquired MRSA remain the two most concerning Gram-positive pathogens for infectious disease specialists
• More than half of ID specialists indicated they have increased the number of MRSA patients discharged on outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy
• Three-quarters of ID specialists said they would prescribe Sivextro, the new MRSA drug from Cubist, over Pfizer’s Zyvox for treating MRSA skin infections
More Articles on MRSA:
Methicillin-Susceptible S. aureus Strains a Concern in Neonatal Care Settings
MRSA-Fighting Drug Approved by FDA
Updated Guidelines for Skin, Soft Tissue Infections From IDSA
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