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Robert C. Moellering Jr, MD, Discussant

JAMA. 2008;299(1):79-87.

The case of Mr M, a previously healthy 39-year-old man with erythema and swelling of his finger, illustrates the issues involved in treating community-acquired skin and soft tissue infections since the emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the community. Most community-acquired infections of the skin and soft tissues are caused by S aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes. Until recently, infections due to such organisms in the United States could safely be treated with an oral antistaphylococcal penicillin or an oral first-generation cephalosporin. However, the emergence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci as community-acquired pathogens has changed the picture as far as empirical therapy is concerned. Not only do community-acquired MRSA bacteria cause furunculitis and cellulitis, they have also been involved in a variety of more serious and life-threatening infections. Most of these organisms are susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, minocycline, doxycycline, and rifampin, and these agents, along with clindamycin, have been used in the therapy of such infections, even though no clinical trials have proven their efficacy. For more serious, life-threatening infections, linezolid or parenteral agents such as vancomycin or daptomycin should be considered.

Author Affiliation: Dr Moellering is the Shields Warren-Mallinckrodt Professor of Medical Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

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RELATED LETTERS

Intrafamilial Spread of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections
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JAMA. 2008;299(21):2511.
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Intrafamilial Spread of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections—Reply
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JAMA. 2008;299(21):2511-2512.
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