Clindamycin for colonization and infection by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

The Effect of Systemic Antibiotics for Suppurative Skin and Soft Tissue Infections on Skin Microbiome

Background

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are very common bacterial infections. There are few data on the microbiome of persons with and without SSTIs and the effects of systemic antibiotic therapy.

Methods

We sampled the skin microbiome from 10 outpatients with acute suppurative SSTI before and after systemic antibiotic therapy and enrolled 10 matched controls. Samples were collected at 6 skin body sites (occipital scalp, axilla, interdigital hand web spaces, gluteal crease, inguinal creases, and popliteal fossa), 2 mucosal sites (throat, anterior nares), and the site of skin infection (for case subjects) at baseline and a week later after abscess incision, drainage, and oral antibiotics.

Result

Among 10 SSTI cases, mean age was 41.5 years and 3 had diabetes mellitus. The gluteal crease at baseline had higher α-diversity in controls vs cases (P = .039); β-diversity analysis showed significant differences in overall bacterial community composition (P = .046). However, at other body sites there were no significant differences by either α- or β-diversity. Systemic antibiotic use did not affect body site diversity indices except at the SSTI site (α-diversity increased, P = .001).

Conclusions

We surprisingly found no significant differences in microbiome comparing noninfected skin sites before and after systemic SSTI antibiotic therapy nor significant differences at noninfected skin sites between SSTI cases and uninfected controls. We also found minimal significant differences between microbiome diversity and bacterial signatures at noninfected skin sites between patients with acute skin infection and uninfected controls. Our findings challenge the dogma that systemic antibiotics impact the skin microbiome.

What Is the Evidence for Co-trimoxazole, Clindamycin, Doxycycline, and Minocycline in the Treatment of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Pneumonia?

Objective: To review the evidence for trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), clindamycin, doxycycline, and minocycline in the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pneumonia. Data Source: MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, Google, Google Scholar, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from 1946 to May 20, 2019. The search was performed with the keywords methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, Staphylococcus aureus, pneumonia, trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole drug combination, trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole, TMP-SMX, co-trimoxazole, clindamycin, doxycycline, and minocycline. Data Extraction: Studies reporting the use of the above antibiotics for MRSA pneumonia treatment with clinical outcomes were included. Search parameters were limited to English language and human studies only. Data Synthesis: The search yielded 16 relevant articles: 6 TMP-SMX, 8 clindamycin, zero doxycycline, and 2 minocycline. For TMP-SMX, prospective randomized trials showed variable results; however, these studies were not specifically designed to assess MRSA pneumonia treatment. Retrospective studies with clindamycin suggested that it could be used as monotherapy or in combination with other anti-MRSA antibiotics. There was no evidence for doxycycline use, but 2 small retrospective reviews appeared to support minocycline as a treatment option. Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice: These antibiotics are often used in clinical practice as potential treatment options for MRSA pneumonia. This article reviews the evidence for the clinical efficacy and safety of these agents. Conclusions: There are limited data to support use of TMP-SMX, clindamycin, doxycycline, or minocycline in MRSA pneumonia treatment. Randomized controlled trials are required to determine the effectiveness of these antibiotics. Clinicians should base their decision to use these agents on a case-by-case basis depending on clinical status and susceptibility results.

The management of infection and colonization due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: A CIDS/CAMM position paper

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is being seen with greater frequency in most hospitals and other health care facilities across Canada. The organism may cause life-threatening infections and has been associated with institutional outbreaks. Several studies have confirmed that MRSA infection is associated with increased morbidity and mortality compared with infections caused by susceptible strains, even when the presence of comorbidities is accounted for. Treatment of MRSA infection is complicated by the fact that these organisms are resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents, so treatment options are limited. The effectiveness of decolonization therapy (attempting to eradicate MRSA carriage) is also uncertain. This paper reviews the medical management of MRSA infections, discusses the potential role of decolonization and provides an overview of evidence to support recommended infection control practices.

Pathogens resistant to antimicrobial agents. Epidemiology, molecular mechanisms, and clinical management

The emergence of resistance to antimicrobial agents continues to be a major problem in the nosocomial setting and now in nursing homes and the community as well. Bacteria use a variety of strategies to avoid the inhibitory effects of antibiotic agents and have evolved highly efficient means for the dissemination of resistance traits. Control of antibiotic-resistant pathogens provides a major challenge for both the medical community and society in general. To control the emergence of resistant pathogens, CDC and infection control guidelines must be adhered to, and antibiotics must be used more judiciously.