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Updated: Oct 12, 2025
Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus MRSA
Published on: February 9, 2011
New drugs for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin and soft tissue infections
Joya-Rita Hindy1, Sara F Haddad2, Souha S Kanj2
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Purpose Of Review:
Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogen incriminated in skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), with methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) becoming the predominant cause and representing a significant burden to the healthcare system. The last updated Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guidelines concerning MRSA infections and SSTIs management were published in 2011 and 2014, respectively. The UK updated guidelines for MRSA infection treatment were published in 2021. Older treatment options may be associated with toxicity and require frequent dosing. There is a paucity of recent reviews on the armamentarium of new agents for MRSA SSTIs treatment.
Recent Findings:
Since 2005, several new antibiotics received a fast-track approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for SSTI treatment. These drugs include delafloxacin, omadacycline, tedizolid, ceftaroline, dalbavancin, oritavancin and telavancin. In this manuscript, we will review the data that led to these new drugs approval and discuss their advantages and disadvantages in MRSA SSTIs management.
Summary:
MRSA is a major cause of SSTIs. Several novel therapies covering MRSA were FDA-approved for SSTIs. However, the current IDSA guidelines for MRSA infection and SSTIs as well as the recently published UK guidelines on MRSA treatment only consider these drugs as alternative choices or do not mention them at all.
Insights
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causes many skin infections. New antibiotics are available, but current guidelines do not fully incorporate them for MRSA skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) treatment.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
- Dermatology
Background:
- Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs).
- Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is a predominant pathogen in SSTIs, posing a significant healthcare burden.
- Existing treatment guidelines for MRSA SSTIs are outdated, with the last Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) updates in 2011 and 2014, and UK guidelines in 2021.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review novel antibiotic agents approved for MRSA SSTIs.
- To evaluate the data supporting the approval of these new drugs.
- To discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these agents in clinical practice.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recently approved antibiotics for MRSA SSTIs.
- Analysis of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval data.
- Comparative assessment of new agents against existing treatment options.
Main Results:
- Several new antibiotics, including delafloxacin, omadacycline, tedizolid, ceftaroline, dalbavancin, oritavancin, and telavancin, have received FDA approval for SSTI treatment since 2005.
- These novel therapies demonstrate efficacy against MRSA.
- Current IDSA and UK guidelines inadequately address or omit these newer treatment options for MRSA SSTIs.
Conclusions:
- MRSA remains a significant cause of SSTIs.
- Novel MRSA-active antibiotics offer promising alternatives for SSTI management.
- Guidelines need updating to reflect the availability and potential benefits of these new agents.
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