MRSA Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about MRSA, including details on methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, hospitals, infection, antibiotic resistance, superbugs.

Use of long-acting tetracyclines for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections: case series and review of the literature.

Ruhe JJ, Monson T, Bradsher RW, Menon A

Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. ruhejorgj@uams.edu

BACKGROUND: Few data exist on the efficacy of the long-acting tetracyclines doxycycline and minocycline against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. METHODS: The medical records of 24 patients with serious tetracycline-susceptible MRSA infections who were treated with doxycycline or minocycline were reviewed. A review of the literature on the use of these antibiotics for treatment of both methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant S. aureus infection was also performed. RESULTS: Complicated skin and skin-structure infections were most common (67%). Clinical cure was achieved in 20 (83%) of 24 patients in our case series. Both drugs were well-tolerated. The review of the literature on a total of 85 patients with S. aureus infection revealed similar results. CONCLUSIONS: Long-acting tetracyclines may be a reasonable treatment alternative for patients with certain types of MRSA infection.

Published 21 April 2005 in Clin Infect Dis, 40(10): 1429-34.
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