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Pharmacy and Wellness Review

Abstract

As of February 2011, the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) published the first guidelines assessing the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. S. aureus is present in the environment and is also located on the skin's surface. MRSA can cause a variety of clinical syndromes presenting with different symptoms that vary with the type and stage of the infection. MRSA is also classified into community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) and hospital-acquired (HA-MRSA), both of which possess different treatment options and strategies. Due to the complex treatment of MRSA, as well the concern over the development of resistance, suggested treatment guidelines are critical for improvement in clinical outcomes. The recently published IDSA guidelines come in lieu of those previously published in 2006 by the U.K. The U.S. publication was most likely prompted due to an article published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) suggesting MRSA was twice as common as other invasive infections and correlated with significant mortality. Although publication of new evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of MRSA will most likely result in improved therapeutic outcome, it is pertinent that health care providers receive adequate education regarding the use of the guidelines.

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