Impact of MRSA on effective antibiotic prescribing.

*1MSSA, methicillin-susceptible S. aureus; MRSA, methicillin-resistant S. aureus.*2p value comparing MSSA and MRSA groups.*3Optimal 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.*4Denominator 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.