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Updated: Aug 3, 2026
07:46
Experimental Endocarditis Model of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Rat
Published on: June 4, 2012
Antimicrobial drugs for treating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization
Mark B Loeb1, Cheryl Main, Angela Eady
1Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Henderson Hospital, 711 Concession Street, Hamilton, Canada, L8V 1C3. loebm@mcmaster.ca.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|October 30, 2003
Summary
Current evidence is insufficient to support antimicrobial therapy for eradicating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Neither topical nor systemic treatments show superiority, and both carry risks of adverse events and antimicrobial resistance.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Microbiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) eradication strategies vary.
- Antimicrobial agents are used to combat MRSA, but evidence for their efficacy is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize evidence on antimicrobial agents for MRSA eradication.
- To assess effects on MRSA carriage, adverse events, and subsequent infections.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
- Searched multiple databases (Cochrane, MEDLINE, EMBASE) and contacted experts.
- Included trials comparing antimicrobials to placebo or other agents for MRSA eradication.
Main Results:
- Six RCTs (384 participants) were included.
- No significant difference in MRSA eradication was found between mupirocin and placebo, or systemic agents and no treatment.
- One study showed rifampicin superiority at day 30, but not at day 90. Adverse events and resistance were reported.
Conclusions:
- Insufficient evidence supports topical or systemic antimicrobial therapy for MRSA eradication.
- No superiority demonstrated for topical, systemic, or combination therapies.
- Potential risks include adverse events and antimicrobial resistance development.
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