Antibiotic Treatment for MRSA

The number of patients treated with antibiotics for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in U.S. hospitals increased eight percent in one year, according to a study by a pharmaceutical market research firm. Arlington Medical Resources, a Philadelphia-based company that conducts syndicated hospital drug use audits, provides the information in its U.S. Hospital Antibiotic Market Guide. AMR also found the average number of days of inpatient therapy per patient treated with an antibiotic for MRSA decreased by 10 percent during the study period of 2006-2007. In addition, skin structure infections (46%), systemic infections (19%), and lower respiratory infections (19%) were the most common among patients with a positive MRSA culture.