Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia and Pneumonia

MRSA is an increasing important cause of community-, hospital-, and health care-associated bacteremia. MRSA bacteremia has been associated with a higher mortality than MSSA bacteremia. Although CA-MRSA has been classically associated with skin and soft tissue infections, there are increasing reports of CA-MRSA BSI and pneumonia. CAP due to PVL producing S. aureus is an emerging clinical entity associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Whereas vancomycin has been considered the gold standard for the treatment of MRSA bacteremia, there are increasing reports of infections due to vancomycin intermediate S. aureus. Alternative agents for the treatment of MRSA include daptomycin and linezolid.