MRSA Treatment

Treatment for a MRSA infection will vary, depending on factors such as the severity of the infection, other medical conditions you may have, and your age. For minor MRSA infections, treatment will typically include oral antibiotics. A healthcare provider may also drain the infected area to help it heal more quickly. Treatment for more serious MRSA infections may involve hospitalization and administering antibiotics intravenously (IV).

Treatment for MRSA Infections: An Overview

After a person has been diagnosed with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), treatment will begin. The recommended treatment will depend on such things as:
 
  • The severity of the infection
  • The results of various tests (including which antibiotics may be the most effective)
  • Existing medical conditions
  • The person's age.
     

Treating Less Serious MRSA Infections

Most MRSA infections are treated with antibiotics. For less severe infections, a healthcare provider may recommend one of several oral antibiotics. These may include:
 
After starting an antibiotic, your healthcare provider may want to re-evaluate you in 24 to 48 hours. If the antibiotics do not appear to be working, it could be that the strain of MRSA is resistant to that specific antibiotic, or the infection is a deeper, more serious infection than was initially determined. In this case, a new antibiotic may be recommended or you may be admitted into the hospital for treatment with IV antibiotics.
 
For mild to moderate skin infections, your healthcare provider may also insert a needle to remove some of the infected fluid or make a cut on the skin to drain the infection. This can help the tissue heal more quickly. It is very important that you do not try to do this yourself. Self-treatment can make things significantly worse.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
 
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