More on pneumonia: Treatment of MRSA in community acquired pneumonia

doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7553.1334

BMJ 2006;332:1334 (3 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.332.7553.1334

Letter

Treatment of MRSA in community acquired pneumonia

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—Hoare and Lim's update on the diagnosis and managementof community acquired pneumonia does not mention methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA),¹ which is becoming morecommon in the community as a true community associated organism,in patients in residential care, and in those discharged fromhospital. Patients who have newly acquired MRSA often developfurther infections unless carriage is cleared. One study showedthat in the 18 months after first colonisation, over one quarterof individuals developed further MRSA infections, many of whichwere pneumonias.² All MRSA strains are resistant to penicillinsand cephalosporins; over 90% of hospital associated strainsare resistant to quinolones, and over 70% are resistant to erythromycinand clarithromycin.³ Treatment regimens advised in the articleare inappropriate when MRSA is a likely pathogen.

At Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust in the past year 39% of allMRSA bacteraemias presented in the community, nearly half of. . . [Full text of this article]

James Greig, consultant microbiologist

James.Greig@PHNT.swest.nhs.uk, Department of Microbiology, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth PL6 8DH

Peter Jenks, consultant microbiologist

Department of Microbiology, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth PL6 8DH