Vancomycin or Linezolid Empiric MRSA Coverage with potential Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (pVAP) Has No Benefit or Effect on Outcomes: Antibiotic Stewardship Implications

Clinically, MRSA VAP is rare. However, MRSA is a common colonizer of respiratory secretions in ventilated adults in ICUs. The classic clinical features of bona fide S. aureus pneumonia are well known from experience with S. aureus pneumonia with influenza. In a pVAP ICU patient, without the clinical findings of S. aureus pneumonia, i.e., otherwise unexplained new high fevers/chills, hemorrhagic tracheobronchitis, elastin fibers in bronchial secretions, hypotension, rapidly cavitation, and thick walled cavities in one/both lungs [1,2].
Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research