title: The role of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in skin and soft tissue infections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a major public health issue worldwide over the last years. MRSA is frequently implicated in the development of skin and soft tissue infections, leading to significant increases in morbidity, mortality and overall healthcare costs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In order to face the threat of MRSA, major changes in clinical management of skin and soft tissue infections are required. The identification of populations at risk for the acquisition of infections due to MRSA, together with the improvement of the diagnostic techniques, is paramount. Moreover, a number of new antimicrobials with activity against MRSA have been recently developed and approved for the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections, however, the use of the new drugs in the wide clinical practice remains limited.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We reviewed the current epidemiology of MRSA in skin and soft tissue infections, with particular focus on implications for clinical management. The potential role of new antibiotic options against MRSA infections is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Division, Santa Maria Misericordia Hospital, Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bassetti
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carnelutti
authors.forename: Elda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Righi
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents