Empiric Antimicrobial Therapy for Pediatric Skin and Soft-Tissue Infections in the Era of Methicillin-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>

Abstract

Compared with beta-lactams, clindamycin monotherapy conferred no benefit, whereas trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was associated with an increased risk of treatment failure in a cohort of children with nondrained noncultured SSTIs who were treated as outpatients. Even in regions with endemic community-acquired MRSA, beta-lactams may still be appropriate, first-line, empiric therapy for children presenting with these infections.