Author disclosures The authors report no actual or potential conflicts of interest with regard to this article.
Disclaimer The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Federal Practitioner, Frontline Medical Communications Inc., the U.S. Government, or any of its agencies. This article may discuss unlabeled or investigational use of certain drugs. Please review the complete prescribing information for specific drugs or drug combinations—including indications, contraindications, warnings, and adverse effects—before administering pharmacologic therapy to patients.
Ms. Geiger is a 2018 PharmD candidate, and Dr. Barnett is an associate professor of pharmacy, both at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Dr. Barnett also is a clinical pharmacist at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin.
Based on the results of previously described studies, sufficient data may exist to support the discontinuation of MRSA-targeted therapy in noncritically ill patients with confirmed or suspected pneumonia and a negative MRSA PCR nasal swab. Insufficient evidence exists, however, to support a broadening of antimicrobial therapy to include anti-MRSA coverage in individuals with a positive MRSA PCR nasal swab, regardless of the infection site.
Clinical judgment should be used when determining empiric antimicrobial therapy and for appropriateness of de-escalation of therapy in critically ill patients. Once a patient stabilizes, a negative MRSA PCR nasal swab could be considered as supporting evidence to discontinue anti-MRSA therapy, especially in patients with lower respiratory infections, such as pneumonia.
