Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-gvh9x Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-19T06:07:03.415Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Treatment of Infection and Colonization Caused by Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

Henry F. Chambers*
Affiliation:
The Medical Service, San Francisco General Hospital and The Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California
*
The Medical Service, 5H22, San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, CA 94110

Abstract

The mechanism of methicillin resistance confers resistance to all available B-lactam antibiotics; consequently, B-lactam antibiotics have no role in therapy of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. Vancomycin remains the drug of choice. Teicoplanin and daptomycin are two investigational antibiotics related to vancomycin in structure and in spectrum of activity. In clinical trials employing relatively low doses, neither was as effective as vancomycin. Trials at higher doses are on-going. Quinolones, ciprofloxacin in particular, have been used successfully to treat infections caused by MRSA; however, the usefulness of quinolones may be limited by the tendency of resistance to emerge during therapy. Quinolones probably should be used only in combination with another active agent, such as rifampin, when treating serious infections caused by MRSA. Other agents may be active in vitro against MRSA, but clinical data showing their effectiveness are lacking. Rifampin combination regimens appear most effectively to eradicate colonization with MRSA.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Georgopapadakou, NH, Liu, FY. Binding of b-lactam antibiotics to penicillin-binding proteins in a Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus faecalis: relation to antibacterial activity. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1980;18:834836.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2. Wyke, AW. Isolation of five penicillin-binding proteins from Staphylococcus aureus . FEMS Microbiol Lett. 1984:22:133138.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3. Brown, DFJ, Reynolds, PE. Intrinsic resistance to b-lactam antibiotics in Staphylococcus aureus . FEMS Microbiol Lett.1980;122:275278.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4. Hartman, BJ, Tomasz, A. Low-affinity penicillin-binding protein associated with b-lactam resistance in Staphylococcus aureus . J Bacterial 1984;158:513516.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5. Chambers, HF. Coagulase-negative staphylococci resistant to b-lactam antibiotics in vivo produce penicillin-binding protein 2.Antimicrob Agents Chemother.1987;31:19191924.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6. Matthews, PR, Stewart, PR. Resistance heterogeneity in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus . FEMS Microbiol Lett.1984;22:161166.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7. Sabath, LD, Wallace, SJ. Factors influencing methicillin resistance in staphylococci. Ann NY Acad Sci. 1974;236:258266.Google Scholar
8. Berger-Bachi, B, Kohler, ML. A novel site on the chromosome of Staphylococcus aureus influencing the level of methicillin resistance: genetic mapping. FEMS Microbiol Lett. 1983;20:305309.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9. Murakami, K, Tomasz, A. Involvement of multiple genetic determinants in high-level methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus . J Bacterial. 1989;171:874879.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10. Chambers, HF, Sachdeva, M. Binding of b-lactam antibiotics to penicillin-binding proteins in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus . J Infect Dis. 1990;161:11701176.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11. Chambers, HF, Hackbarth, CJ, Drake, TA, Rusnak, MG, Sande, MA. Endocarditis due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in rabbits: expression of resistance to b-lactam antibiotics in vivo and in vitro. Infect Dis. 1984;149:894903.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12. Crossley, K, Loesch, D, Landesman, B, Mead, K, Chern, M, Strate, R. An outbreak of infections caused by strains of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to methicillin and aminoglycosides. I. Clinical studies. J Infect Dis. 1979;139:273279.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13. Frongillo, RF, Donati, L, Federico, G, et al. Clinical comparative study on the activity of cefamandole in treatment of serious staphylococcal infections caused by methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant strains. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1986;29:789796.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14. Archer, GL. Vasquez, GJ, Johnson, JL. Antibiotic prophylaxis of experimental endocarditis due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis . J Infect Dis. 1980;142:725731.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15. Vasquez, GL, Archer, GL. Antibiotic therapy of experimental Staphylococcus epidermis endocarditis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1980;17:280285.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16. Acar, JF, Courvalin, P, Chabbert, YA. Methicillin-resistant staphylococcemia: bacteriologic failure of treatment with cephalosporins. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1971:280285.Google Scholar
17. Barrett, FF, McGehee, RF Jr, Finland, M. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus at Boston City Hospital: bacteriologic and epidemiologic observations. N Engl J Med. 1968:279:441448.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18. Klimek, JJ, Marsik, FJ, Bartlett, RC, Weir, B, Shea, P, Quintilliani, R. Clinical epidemiologic and bacteriologic observations of an outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus at a large community hospital. Am J Med. 1976:61:340345.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
19. Myers, JP, Linnemann, CC Jr. Bacteremia due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus . J Infect Dis.1982;145:532536.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
20. Watanakunakorn, C. Treatment of infections due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus . Ann Intern Med. 1982;97:376378.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21. Sorrell, TC, Packham, DR, Shanker, S. Foldes, M, Munro, R. Vancomycin therapy for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus . Ann Intern Med. 1982;97:344350.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
22. Craven, DE, Kollisch, NR, Hsieh, CR Connolly, MG, McCabe, WR. Vancomycin treatment of bacteremia caused by oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: comparison with b-lactam antibiotic treatment of bacteremia caused by oxacillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus . J Infect Dis. 1983;147:137143.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
23. Schwalbe, RS, Stapleton, JT, Gilligan, PH. Emergence of vancomycin resistance in coagulase-negative staphylococci. N Engl J Med. 1987;316:927931.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
24. Faville, RJ Jr, Zaske, DE, Kaplan, EL, Crossley, K, Sabath, LD, Quie, PG. Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis: combined therapy with vancomycin and rifampin. JAMA. 1978;240:19631965.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
25. Gopal, V, Bisno, AL, Silverblatt, FJ. Failure of vancomycin treatment in Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis: in vivo and in vitro observations. JAMA. 1976;236:16041606.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
26. Klastersky, J, Coppens, L, van, der Auwera, P, Meunier-Carpenter, F. Vancomycin therapy of oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection. J Antimicrob Agents Chemother.1983;11:361367.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
27. Small, PM, Chambers, HF. Vancomycin for Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis in intravenous drug users. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1990;34:12271231.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
28. Watanakunakorn, C, Tisone, JC. Synergism between vancomycin and gentamicin or tobramycin for methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1982;22:903905.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
29. Hackbarth, CT. Chambers, HF. Sande, MA. Serum bactericidal activity of rifampin in combination with other antimicrobial agents against Staphylococcus aureus . Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1986;29:611613.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
30. Watanakunakorn, C, Guerriero, JC. Interaction between vancomycin and rifampin against Staphylococcus aureus . Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1981;19:1089;1091.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
31. Aldridge, KE, Lanney, A, Sanders, CV. Comparison of the activities of coumermycin, ciprofloxacin, teicoplanin, and other non-Β-lactam antibiotics against clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from various geographical locations. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1985;28:634638.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
32. Chambers, HF, Sande, MA. Teicoplanin versus nafcillin and vancomycin in the treatment of experimental endocarditis caused by methicillin-susceptible or -resistant Staphylococcus aureus . Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1984;26:6164.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
33. Calain, P, Krause, KH, Vaudaux, P, et al. Early termination of a prospective, randomized trial comparing teicoplanin and fluxcloxacillin for treating severe staphylococcal infection. J Infect Dis.1987;155:187191.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
34. Bibler, MR, Frame, FT, Hagler, DN, et al. Clinical evaluation of efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and safety of teicoplanin for serious gram-positive infections. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1989;31:207212.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
35. Leport, C, Perronne, C, Massip, P, et al. Evaluation of teicoplanin for treatment of endocarditis caused by gram-positive cocci in 20 patients. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1989;33:871876.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
36. Glupczynski, Y, Lagast, H. Van, der Auwera, P, et al. Clinical evaluation of teicoplanin for gram-positive bacteria. Antimicrob Agents Chemother.1986;29:5257.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
37. Kirby, WM. Perry, DM, Bauer, AW. Treatment of staphylococcal septicemia with vancomycin: report of 33 cases. N Engl J Med. 1960;262:4955.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
38. Eliopoulos, GM, Willey, S, Reiszner, E, Spitzer, PG, Caputo, G, Moellering, RC Jr. In vitro and in vivo activity of LY146032, a new cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic, Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1986;30:532535.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
39. Leclerq, R, Derlot, E, Duval, J. Couvalin, P. Plasmid mediated resistance to vancomycin and teicoplanin in Enterococcus faecium . N Engl J Med.1988:319:157161.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
40. Canepari, P, Boaretti, M, Lleo, M, Satta, G. Lipoteichoic acid as a new target for activity of antibiotics of daptomycin (LY 146032). Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1990;34:12201226.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
41. Kennedy, S, Chambers, HF. Daptomycin (LY146032) for prevention and treatment of experimental aortic valve endocarditis in rabbits. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1989;33:15221525.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
42. Wolfson, JS, Hooper, JC. The fluoroquinolones: structures, mechanisms of action and resistance, and spectra of activity in vitro. Antimicrob Agents Chemother.1985;28:581586.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
43. Sullam, PM. Tauber, MG, Hackbarth, CJ, Chambers, HF, Scott, KS. Sande, MA. Pefloxacin therapy for experimental endocarditis caused by methicillin-susceptible or methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus . Antimicrob Agents Chemother.1985;27:685687.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
44. Carpenter, TC, Hackbarth, CJ, Chambers, HF; Sande, MA. Efficacy of ciprofloxacin for experimental endocarditis caused by methicillin-susceptible or -resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus . Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1986;30:382384.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
45. Neu, HC. Bacterial resistance to fluoroquinolones. Rev Infect Dis. 1988;10(suppl 1):S57S63.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
46. Cullen, ME, Wyke, AW, Kuroda, R, Fisher, L. Cloning and characterization of a DNA gyrase gene from Escherichia coli that confers clinical resistance to 4-quinolones. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1989;33:886894.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
47. Kaatz, GW, Seo, SM, Barriere, SL, Albrecht, LM, Rybak, ML Ciprofloxacin and rifampin, alone and in combination for therapy of experimental Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis.Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1989;33:11841187.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
48. Mulligan, ME, Ruane, PJ, Johnston, L, et al. Ciprofloxacin for eradication of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization. Am J Med. 1987;82(suppl2):215219.Google ScholarPubMed
49. Greenburg, RN, Kennedy, DJ, Reilly, PM, et al. Treatment of bone, joint, and son-tissue infections with oral ciprofloxacin. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1987;31:151155.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
50. Piercy, EA, Barbara, D, Luby, JP, Mackowiack, PA. Ciprofloxacin for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1989;33:128130.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
51. Schaefler, S. Methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to quinolones. J Clin Microbiol. 1989;27:335336.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
52. Smith, SM, Eng, HK, Tecson-Tumang, F. Ciprofloxacin therapy for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections or colonizations. Antimicrob Agents Chemother.1989;33:181184.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
53. Miller, MH, Wexler, MA, Steigbigel, NH. Single and combination antibiotic therapy of Staphylococcus aureus experimental endocarditis: emergence of gcntamicin-resistant mutants.Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1978;14:336343.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
54. Klastersky, J. Antibiotic susceptibility of oxacillin-resistant staphylococci. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1972;1:441446.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
55. Chambers, HF, Miller, MH. Emergence of resistance to cephalothin and gentamicin during combination therapy for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis in rabbits. J Infect Dis. 1987;155:581585.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
56. Elwell, LP, Wilson, HR, Knick, VPS, Keith, BR. In vitro and in vivo efficacy of the combination trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole against clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus . Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1986;29:10921094.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
57. Ardati, KO, Thirumoorthi, MC, Dajani, AS Intravenous trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in the treatment of serious infection in children. Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics.1979;95:801806.Google Scholar
58. Levitz, RE, Quintilliani, R. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for bacterial meningitis. Ann Intern Med. 1984;100:881890.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
59. Markowitz, N, Saravolotz, L, Pohlod, D, et al. Comparative efficacy and toxicity of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole versus vancomycin in the therapy of Staphylococcus aureus . Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Therapy and Chemotherapy, September 29-October 2. 1985. Minneapolis. Minnt: Abstract No. 903.Google Scholar
60. Graninger, W, Leitha, T, Breyer, S, Francesconi, M, Lenz, K, Georgopoulos, A. Methicillin- and gentamicin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: susceptibility to fosfomycin, cefamandole, N-formimidoyl-thienamycin, clindamycin, fusidic acid, and vancomycin. Drugs Exp Clin Res. 1985;11:2327.Google ScholarPubMed
61. Farber, BF, Yee, TC, Karchmer, AW. Interaction between rifampin and fusidic acid against methicillin-resistant coagulase-positive and -negative staphylococci. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1986;30:174175.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
62. Usui, Y, Ohya, S, Magaribuchi, T Tajima, M, Yokota, T. Anti-bacterial activity of cefmetazole alone and in combination with fosfomycin against methicillin- and cephem-resistant Staphylococcus aureus . Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1986;30:917922.Google Scholar
63. Alvarez, S, Jones, M, Berk, SL. In vitro activity of fosfomycin, alone and in combination, against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus . Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1985;28:689690.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
64. Fukuda, K, Yoshio, K, Handa, S, Yoshikawa, T, Uchida, H, Nakamura, Y. A successful treatment of an infective endocarditis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with a combination of cefmetazole with fosfomycin. Jpn J Antibiot. 1989;42:19131918.Google ScholarPubMed
65. Walsh, TJ, Auger, F, Tatem, BA, Hansen, SL, Standiford, HC. Novobiocin and rifampicin in combination against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: an in-vitro comparison with vancomycin and rifampicin. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1986;17:7582.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
66. Guillemin, MN, Miles, HM, McDonald, MI. Activity of coumermycin against clinical isolate of staphylococci. Antimicrob Agents Chemother.1986;29:608610.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
67. Kirby, WM, Hudson, DG, Noyers, WD. Clinical and laboratory studies of novobiocin, a new antibiotic. Arch Intern Med. 1956;98:17.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
68. Perronne, CM, Malinverni, R, Glauser, MP. Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis in rats with coumermycin Al and ciprofloxacin, alone or in combination. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1987;31:539543.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
69. Locksley, RM, Cohen, ML, Quinn, TC, et al. Multiply antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: introduction, transmission, and evolution of nosocomial infection. Ann Intern Med.1982;97:317324.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
70. Casewell, MW, Hill, RL. The carrier state: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus . J Antimicrob Chemother. 1986;18(suppl A):112.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
71. Bartzokas, CA,Paton, JH, Gibson, MF, Graham, R, McLoughlin, GA, Croton, RS. Control and eradication of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus on a surgical unit. N Engl J Med. 1984;311:14221425.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
72. Brumfitt, W, Hamilton-Miller, J. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus . N Engl J Med. 1989;320:11881196.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
73. Cederna, JE, Terpenning, MS, Ensberg, M, Bradley, SF, Kauffman, CA. Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization in a nursing home: eradication with mupirocin. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1990;11:1316.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
74. Yu, VL, Goetz, A, Wagener, M, et al. Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage and infection in patients on hemodialysis. N Engl J Med.1986;315:9196.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
75. Canawati, HN, Tuddenham, WJ, Sapico, FL, Montgomerie, JZ, Aeilts, GD. Failure of rifampin to eradicate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization. Clin Ther. 1982;4:526531.Google ScholarPubMed
76. Roccaforte, JS, Bittner, MJ, Stumpf, CA, Preheim, LC. Attempts to eradicate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization with the use of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. rifampin, and bacitracin. Am J Infect Control.1988;16:141146.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
77. Ward, TT Winn, RE. Hartstein, AL Sewell, DL. Observations relating to an inter-hospital outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: role of antimicrobial therapy in infection control. Infect Control.1981;2:453459.CrossRefGoogle Scholar