MRSA: treating people with infection.

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) confers resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics.
• MRSA colonization is common, but it can cause severe infections, particularly in vulnerable patient groups.
• Approximately 8% of Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are MRSA.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the clinical effects of selected treatments for MRSA infections across all body sites.
• To provide an evidence-based overview of MRSA treatment efficacy and safety.

Main Methods:

• A systematic overview methodology was employed, searching major biomedical databases up to June 2014.
• Included studies were critically appraised, with 15 systematic reviews and one randomized controlled trial added at this update.
• GRADE evaluations were performed for 12 PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) combinations.

Main Results:

• The search identified 312 studies, with 78 full publications reviewed.
• Fifteen systematic reviews and one RCT were incorporated, alongside six additional studies.
• GRADE assessments informed the evaluation of treatment effectiveness and safety.

Conclusions:

• The efficacy of five key interventions for MRSA infections was categorized.
• Evaluated interventions included cephalosporins (ceftobiprole, ceftaroline), daptomycin, linezolid, quinupristin-dalfopristin, and tigecycline.
• This overview provides a categorized assessment of the effectiveness and safety of these MRSA treatments.