Impact of MRSA on effective antibiotic prescribing.

*1<p>MSSA, methicillin-susceptible <i>S. aureus</i>; MRSA, methicillin-resistant <i>S. aureus</i>.</p>*2<p>p value comparing MSSA and MRSA groups.</p>*3<p>Optimal therapy defined as cloxacillin for MSSA infection and vancomycin for MRSA infection. Alternative therapy used included ceftriaxone, cefazolin, cefoxitin, ceftazidime, augmentin and ampicillin combined with gentamicin.</p>*4<p>Denominator is patients who survived to day of culture result. A total of 25 patients (21 with MSSA and 4 with MRSA) died or were discharged moribund prior to culture results becoming available.