Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): Review of Current Treatment Options in Pediatrics

Purpose of Review: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections have significant morbidity and mortality in pediatrics. Although, MRSA frequently causes skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI), invasive infections due to MRSA have become increasingly common. This review aims to provide clinicians with the current treatment options available for invasive and non-invasive MRSA infections in pediatrics. Recent Findings: MRSA resistance is increasing and antibiotics, such as clindamycin and TMP-SMX, may not be as effective. Ceftaroline is a newer agent that has been approved in the USA and Canada for the management of acute bacterial SSTI and community acquired pneumonias caused by MRSA. Summary: Vancomycin remains the mainstay of therapy for most invasive MRSA infections. However, the choice of antibiotic used in the clinical setting can depend on many factors: resistance patterns, site of infection, age and geographical location of the patient, side effects and availability of antibiotics. In pediatrics, future clinical studies are required to determine the efficacy and safety of novel antibiotics such as ceftaroline. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.