What is the best therapeutic approach to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to define what the best therapeutic approach is for the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pneumonia.

RECENT FINDINGS

Although two meta-analyses reported conflicting findings, recent retrospective studies reported higher success rates in patients with MRSA pneumonia treated with linezolid when compared to vancomycin. Only registration trials are available for some anti-MRSA antibiotics, such as telavancin, ceftaroline, and ceftobiprole. Scarce information is available regarding the best therapeutic approach for MRSA community-acquired pneumonia.

SUMMARY

Linezolid seems to be a better choice than vancomycin for the treatment of MRSA ventilator-associated pneumonia. It is still unclear whether this affirmation holds for other forms of MRSA pneumonia. Further research is needed to define whether newer antibiotics are better alternatives than currently recommended agents.