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Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): Review of Current Treatment Options in Pediatrics

  • Pediatric Infectious Disease (M Mitchell and F Zhu, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections have significant morbidity and mortality in pediatrics. Although, MRSA frequently causes skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI), invasive infections due to MRSA have become increasingly common. This review aims to provide clinicians with the current treatment options available for invasive and non-invasive MRSA infections in pediatrics.

Recent Findings

MRSA resistance is increasing and antibiotics, such as clindamycin and TMP-SMX, may not be as effective. Ceftaroline is a newer agent that has been approved in the USA and Canada for the management of acute bacterial SSTI and community acquired pneumonias caused by MRSA.

Summary

Vancomycin remains the mainstay of therapy for most invasive MRSA infections. However, the choice of antibiotic used in the clinical setting can depend on many factors: resistance patterns, site of infection, age and geographical location of the patient, side effects and availability of antibiotics. In pediatrics, future clinical studies are required to determine the efficacy and safety of novel antibiotics such as ceftaroline.

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Author notes

  1. Alison Lopez MD

    Present address: Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre, 800 Commissioners Rd E, London, ON, N6A 5W9, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, JPCH Children’s Hospital, 103 Hospital Drive, Room 2718, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0W8, Canada

    Rupeena Purewal MD

  2. Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, Canada

    Alison Lopez MD

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Correspondence to Rupeena Purewal MD.

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Alison Lopez declares that she has no conflict of interest.

Dr. Purewal is a consultant for Verity Pharmaceuticals and receives honorarium for presentations, however, this is unrelated to the content of this manuscript.

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Purewal, R., Lopez, A. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): Review of Current Treatment Options in Pediatrics. Curr Treat Options Peds 9, 23–35 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40746-023-00265-2

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