Inadequate early treatment an MRSA Killer

Medscape
Below is the conclusion of a very detailed analysis of the impact of MRSA. The whole article is worth reading for those keen to understand the full extent of the current research

Compared with MSSA, MRSA is associated with worse outcomes, including longer hospital and ICU stays, longer durations of mechanical ventilation, and higher mortality rates. In addition, the cost of treating patients with bacteremia due to MRSA is higher. Inadequate antibiotic therapy is common, is associated with significant mortality, and perhaps explains why outcomes in MRSA infection are so poor. Emerging data suggest that therapy with vancomycin is less than optimal; treatment failure and mortality rates are substantial whether the cause of bacteremia is MRSA or MSSA. Because MRSA is far more common in healthcare-related or nosocomial bacteremia than in community-acquired bacteremia, empiric antibiotic therapy for patients with healthcare-related bacteremia should include coverage for MRSA.