A Novel Combination Therapy for MRSA Bacteremia?

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia has higher mortality than methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) bacteremia. This disparity has been attributed to inferiorities of vancomycin (VAN) used against MRSA relative to ß-lactams used against MSSA. However, recent reports suggest that extra-antibiotic, synergistic mechanisms of ß-lactams may contribute to their better performance. This may explain why adding ß-lactams to VAN proved beneficial in severe MRSA infections. The role of newer, recently licensed ß-lactams with antistaphylococcal activity has not yet been established for severe MRSA infections, but beneficial synergistic effects might also apply.

These researchers conducted a prospective, randomized, nonblinde…