Treatment for MRSA Skin Infections

Overview

• Most MRSA skin infections are caused by Community-associated MRSA, and are therefore treatable by oral antibiotics – although antibiotics are not always required.
• Surgical drainage (lancing) is required to treat an abscess, because antibiotics are unable to penetrate into a pocket of pus.

MRSA Cellulitis

• MRSA cellulitis is a deep skin infection that can spread into underlying tissue. 
• MRSA cellulitis without an abscess is treated with antibiotics. 

MRSA Abscess

• An abscess is adeep pocket of pus containing MRSA bacteria, and is the origin for the continued spread of infection.
• Surgical drainage (lancing) is required to treat an abscess, because antibiotics cannot penetrate into a pocket of pus. 
• Do not attempt to drain an abscess at home. 
  Bacteria from the abscess can be pushed deeper into the tissue, creating a greater problem. 

Antibiotics for MRSA Skin Infections

MRSA by definition is resistant to many antibiotics; however, Community-associated MRSA is still susceptible to a few oral antibiotics. 

MRSA Antibiotics

Antibiotics used to treat MRSA in our communities include: 

• Tetracycline:
  –  Doxycycline and Minocycline are derivatives of tetracycline.
• Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) 
  –  Bactrim and Septra are trade names.
• Clindamycin 
  –  Cleocin is the trade name.
• Ciprofloxacin 
  –  Cipro is the trade name. 
• Linezolid 
  –  Zyvox is the trade name.