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.

Clinical and economic outcomes of oral linezolid versus intravenous vancomycin in the treatment of MRSA-complicated, lower-extremity skin and soft-tissue infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Sharpe JN, Shively EH, Polk HC

SharpCare, LLC, 9505 Williamsburg Plaza, Suite 201, Louisville, KY 40222, USA. drjneal@msn.com

BACKGROUND: Resistant bacteria often complicate the management of skin and soft tissue infections of the lower extremities. This open-label study compared oral linezolid and intravenous vancomycin for management of complicated skin and soft-tissue infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). METHODS: Patients aged 18 years or older with proven MRSA-related complicated skin and soft-tissue infections requiring surgical intervention were randomized to receive oral linezolid (n=30) or intravenous vancomycin (n=30) for 7 to 21 days. Clinical and microbiological outcomes, duration of hospitalization and drug treatment, and outpatient charges were determined. RESULTS: Linezolid was associated with greater rates of clinical cure and improvement (P=.015), a 3-day shorter median length of stay (P=.003), and reduced outpatient charges (P<.001). Vancomycin therapy was associated with more treatment failures and subsequent lower-extremity amputations (P=.011). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical outcomes were significantly better with linezolid than with vancomycin. Additionally, linezolid was associated with reduced length of stay and outpatient charges.

Published 11 April 2005 in Am J Surg, 189(4): 425-8.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 MRSA Research Today. All Rights Reserved.