title: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis.
abstract: Staphylococcus epidermidis is frequently associated with infection of prosthetic heart valves, prosthetic orthopedic devices, and neurosurgical shunts. Penicillinase-resistant semisynthetic penicillins, such as methicillin, have been the therapeutic and prophylactic agents of choice for S epidermidis infection. However, more S epidermidis isolates are now resistant to methicillin and other penicillins. In our laboratory 41% of S epidermidis isolates were resistant to methici-lin. All of the methicillin-susceptible isolates and 82% of the methicillin-resistant isoates were susceptible to cephalothin. Cephalothin should replace methicillin as the prophylactic and therapeutic agent of choice in institutions with a high percentage of methicillin-resistant S epidermidis.
mesh_terms: D002512:Cephalothin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008712:Methicillin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D008712:Methicillin; D002512:Cephalothin