Microbiology and Initial Antibiotic Therapy for Injection Drug Users and Non-Injection Drug Users with Cutaneous Abscesses in the Era of Community-associated Methicillin-resistant<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>

Abstract

Compared with non-injection drug users, cutaneous abscesses in injection drug users were less likely to involve S. aureus, including MRSA, and more likely to involve streptococci and anaerobes; however, MRSA was common in both groups. Antibiotic regimens started in the ED were discordant with national guidelines in over half of cases and often lacked activity against MRSA when this pathogen was present.