Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an increasingly common multidrug-resistant clinical pathogen responsible for increasing health costs and for patient morbidity and mortality. Presented in this review, the definition, cell and molecular biology, epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of MRSA infections, including skin and soft tissue infections, bacteremia and endocarditis, pneumonia, bone and joint infections, and central nervous system infections, are addressed. In the treatment of MRSA, this article highlights several common antibiotics that retain activity against different strains of MRSA.