Threat posed by multi-drug resistant staphylococcus aureus and possible new treatment options

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is a common commensal inhabitant of human mucus membranes and skin. Despite its role as a commensal, S. aureus also cause a wide range of infections in patients of all health backgrounds. Throughout the years, multi-drug resistant strains, often referred to as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), have increased in prevalence and successful treatment is quite complicated. Even more disconcerting, development of new antimicrobials to combat rising infection rates/resistance rates has been slow. This review provides a general discussion of the evolution of MRSA, mechanisms of resistance to antimicrobial agents, current antimicrobials available for combating infection with MRSA, and future prospects for more effective treatment regimens.