Reference · Treatment
Every MRSA Antibiotic Listed and Described
MRSA resists the ordinary beta-lactams, so treatment relies on a defined group of antibiotics. Each entry below links to a full page covering the mechanism, dose regime, how the drug was developed, side effects and its other uses.
Every drug used for MRSA
| Drug | Route | Main role in MRSA |
|---|---|---|
| Vancomycin Vancocin | Intravenous (oral capsules only for gut C. difficile) | The long-standing first-line intravenous antibiotic for serious MRSA infection, including bloodstream infection and endocarditis. |
| Daptomycin Cubicin | Intravenous | A rapidly bactericidal lipopeptide used for MRSA bloodstream infection, right-sided endocarditis and complicated skin infection — but never for pneumonia. |
| Linezolid Zyvox, Zyvoxid | Oral and intravenous (identical dosing) | An oxazolidinone with complete oral absorption and excellent lung penetration, widely used for MRSA pneumonia and refractory skin infection. |
| Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole Bactrim, Septrin, co-trimoxazole | Oral (intravenous available) | A cheap, widely available oral combination that is a first-line choice for community-acquired MRSA skin infection and abscess. |
| Doxycycline Vibramycin, Doxylar | Oral (intravenous available) | A tetracycline taken by mouth that reliably covers community-acquired MRSA skin infection and is well suited to outpatient treatment. |
| Clindamycin Dalacin C, Cleocin | Oral, intravenous and topical | A lincosamide that suppresses staphylococcal toxin production, useful in paediatric MRSA and in necrotising soft-tissue infection. |
| Ceftaroline Teflaro, Zinforo | Intravenous | The cephalosporin that binds PBP2a — a beta-lactam that actually works against MRSA, often used as salvage therapy in persistent bacteraemia. |
| Dalbavancin Dalvance, Xydalba | Intravenous | A long-acting lipoglycopeptide that can treat MRSA skin infection with a single infusion, avoiding a hospital stay or a long line. |
| Oritavancin Orbactiv, Kimyrsa | Intravenous | A single-dose lipoglycopeptide for acute MRSA skin infection, with three separate mechanisms of killing. |
| Teicoplanin Targocid | Intravenous and intramuscular | A once-daily glycopeptide used widely outside the United States as a more convenient, less nephrotoxic alternative to vancomycin. |
| Tedizolid Sivextro | Oral and intravenous | A second-generation oxazolidinone: once daily, a shorter course than linezolid, and less effect on blood counts. |
| Rifampin (rifampicin) Rifadin, Rimactane | Oral and intravenous — always in combination | Never used alone for MRSA, but added to other agents for infection on prosthetic material and bone because it kills bacteria inside biofilm. |
Doses shown across these pages are typical adult regimens for reference only. Prescribing decisions are made by a clinician using local guidance and susceptibility results.
References
- Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of MRSA infections (2011)
- American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy. Therapeutic monitoring of vancomycin for serious MRSA infections: revised consensus guideline (2020)
Treatment hub
How MRSA treatment is chosen by site and severity.
Skin & soft-tissue infection
Drainage first, then which oral antibiotics and for how long.
Invasive wound infection
Surgical and traumatic wounds, debridement and source control.
Bloodstream infection
Bacteraemia and endocarditis, source control and duration.
Decolonisation
Mupirocin and chlorhexidine protocols to clear carriage.