From the Guidelines
For treating Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus Aureus (MSSA) infections orally, first-line therapy is typically dicloxacillin 500 mg orally four times daily or cephalexin 500 mg orally four times daily for 7 days, as recommended by the Infectious Diseases Society of America 1.
Key Considerations
- The choice of antibiotic should be based on the severity of the infection and the patient's allergy history.
- For patients with penicillin allergy, alternatives such as clindamycin 300-450 mg orally three times daily or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) 1-2 double-strength tablets twice daily can be used 1.
- The treatment duration may vary depending on the type of infection, but a 7-day course is typically recommended for uncomplicated skin infections.
Antibiotic Options
- Dicloxacillin: 500 mg orally four times daily for 7 days
- Cephalexin: 500 mg orally four times daily for 7 days
- Clindamycin: 300-450 mg orally three times daily for 7 days
- Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX): 1-2 double-strength tablets twice daily for 7 days
Important Notes
- It is essential to complete the full course of antibiotics even if symptoms improve quickly to prevent recurrence and antibiotic resistance.
- MSSA remains susceptible to these narrower-spectrum antibiotics because it lacks the mecA gene that confers methicillin resistance, allowing for targeted therapy that minimizes disruption to normal gut flora and reduces the risk of complications like C. difficile infection 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The penicillinase-resistant penicillins are indicated in the treatment of infections caused by penicillinase-producing staphylococci which have demonstrated susceptibility to the drugs. To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of dicloxacillin sodium capsules and other antibacterial drugs, dicloxacillin sodium capsules should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria MSSA Treatment Oral: Dicloxacillin sodium capsules can be used to treat MSSA (Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus) infections.
- The dosage and administration of dicloxacillin sodium capsules should be determined by the severity of the infection and the patient's renal function.
- It is essential to use dicloxacillin sodium capsules only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria, including MSSA. 2 2
From the Research
MSSA Treatment Oral
- The treatment of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infections can be achieved through oral antibiotics, with options including penicillinase-resistant penicillins, first-generation cephalosporins, clindamycin, lincomycin, and erythromycin 3.
- For less serious MSSA infections, such as skin and soft tissue infections, oral antibiotics like cephalexin, clindamycin, and minocycline can be used 4, 5, 6.
- Cephalexin is a commonly used oral antibiotic for the treatment of MSSA infections in children, with twice-daily and thrice-daily dosing regimens proposed to improve treatment acceptability and adherence 4.
- Other oral antibiotics, such as doxycycline and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, can also be used to treat MSSA infections, although their effectiveness may vary depending on the specific strain of the bacteria and local susceptibility patterns 3, 5, 6.
- The choice of oral antibiotic for MSSA treatment should be guided by the severity of the infection, the patient's medical history, and local susceptibility patterns, as well as the potential for resistance development 3, 7, 6.
Specific Oral Antibiotics for MSSA
- Cephalexin: effective against MSSA, with proposed twice-daily and thrice-daily dosing regimens for children 4.
- Clindamycin: effective against MSSA, including skin and soft tissue infections 3, 5, 6.
- Minocycline: effective against MSSA, including community-acquired MRSA skin and soft-tissue infections 5.
- Doxycycline: effective against MSSA, although its effectiveness may vary depending on the specific strain of the bacteria and local susceptibility patterns 3, 5, 6.
- Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole: effective against MSSA, although its effectiveness may vary depending on the specific strain of the bacteria and local susceptibility patterns 3, 6.