Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing oral or intravenous linezolid with intravenous vancomycin for the treatment of in-patients with skin and soft tissue infections as a result of hospital-acquired MRSA were eligible for inclusion. Trials needed to report outcomes for both a clinical cure (resolution of symptoms and signs) and a microbiological cure (eradication of MRSA on wound culture).
There was variation across included trials with regard to inclusion criteria, geographic backgrounds (two worldwide, one included 16 countries and one based in the USA), participant age (average ages ranged from 3.47 to 76 years), co-morbidities and co-treatments. Trials reported clinical and/or microbiological outcomes and some trials included length of stay in hospital, drug treatment and outpatient charges, safety and tolerability.
Trial treatment regimens were as follows: for the majority of trials, linezolid (600mg) orally or intravenously every 12 hours or vancomycin (1g) intravenously every 12 hours; for one trial, linezolid 10mg/kg intravenously every eight hours (orally after three days) or vancomycin (1g) intravenous twice daily. Duration of treatment ranged from four to 28 days across trials.
Two reviewers selected studies for inclusion and any disagreements were resolved by discussion.