Activity Against MRSA is the Most Important Attribute Influencing Surveyed U.S. Physicians' Antibiotic Selection for the Treatment of Skin and Skin Structure Infections

MALVERN, Pa., Oct. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Arlington Medical Resources (AMR), a provider of premier market intelligence for the pharmaceutical and diagnostic imaging industries, finds that methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is the most concerning pathogen to surveyed U.S. physicians with regard to their treatment of skin and skin structure infections. A drug's activity against MRSA is among the top factors that influences U.S. physician drug selection for treating skin and skin structure infections. Other factors that influence prescribing include an agent's bactericidal activity, its degree of skin penetration and recommended use by national and hospital guidelines.

The new report entitled Hospital Anti-Infectives Insight Series: Skin & Skin Structure Infections also finds that the success of Pfizer's Zyvox and Cubist's Cubicin is driven strongly by these agents' excellent activity against MRSA. Although surveyed physicians indicate that vancomycin and Zyvox are the most commonly prescribed agents for empiric coverage of MRSA, Zyvox has a clear advantage in terms of dual IV/oral formulation, while vancomycin use is largely driven by its inclusion on hospital formularies and physician familiarity with the agent.

"Surveyed internists noted concerns about increasing vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and patient failure to respond to vancomycin therapy. While vancomycin will continue to dominate prescribing for complicated skin and skin structure infections, these shortcomings will lead to increased use of novel agents, specifically Zyvox, Cubicin and Wyeth's Tygacil," stated James Andersen, analyst at AMR.

About the Report

AMR's Hospital Anti-Infectives Insight Series: Skin & Skin Structure Infections analyzes hospital antibiotic prescribing patterns using AMR's comprehensive and highly detailed clinical data in conjunction with primary research and extensive understanding of emerging therapies and forecasts. This report contains U.S. data and examines the reasons behind physicians' product preferences, factors driving hospital antibiotic prescribing patterns and receptivity to emerging antibiotics.

About AMR

AMR (www.AMR-data.com) serves the market intelligence needs of the pharmaceutical and diagnostic imaging industries. Research includes clinical inpatient databases that directly link anti-infective drug with indication/procedure, formulary and stocking status tracking studies, drug purchasing audits and diagnostic imaging procedure volume/contrast media usage audits. AMR is a Decision Resources, Inc. company.

About Decision Resources, Inc.

Decision Resources, Inc. is a cohesive portfolio of companies that offers best-in-class, high-value information and insights on important sectors of the healthcare industry. Clients rely on this analysis and data to make informed decisions. Please visit Decision Resources, Inc. at www.DecisionResourcesInc.com.

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