Hospital-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Epidemiology, Treatment and Control
Antimicrobial-resistant organisms are an expanding problem, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality, prolonged hospital stay, and heightened health care costs for care and antimicrobial management. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has emerged as a major hospital-acquired, an...
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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2006-01-01
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| Series: | Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2006/703782 |
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| Summary: | Antimicrobial-resistant organisms are an expanding problem, resulting
in increased morbidity and mortality, prolonged hospital stay, and
heightened health care costs for care and antimicrobial management.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has emerged as a
major hospital-acquired, antimicrobial-resistant pathogen. MRSA not
only colonizes hospitalized patients but has a propensity to produce
more serious, life- threatening infection than methicillin-susceptible
strains. Numerous risk factors, including antimicrobial use and proximity
to a patient harbouring MRSA, have been linked to the acquisition
of MRSA. Although vancomycin has been the mainstay of
therapy for MRSA, failures have been reported due to reduced susceptibility
to this agent. Other available therapeutic agents for MRSA
include trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, fusidic acid,
rifampin (in combination with other effective agents) and linezolid.
Potential therapeutic agents that are currently under investigation
include daptomycin, dalbavancin, tigecycline, ceftobiprole and
iclaprim. Only enhanced infection control practices can halt the progressive
transmission of MRSA in the hospital environment. However,
such measures have not quite fulfilled their promise in clinical studies.
Moreover, eradication of MRSA colonization is controversial and may
promote greater resistance. A multidisciplinary approach to the prevention,
containment and treatment of MRSA is necessary. |
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| ISSN: | 1712-9532 |