Evaluation of Patients With Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia Treated With Linezolid or Vancomycin

Patients will be enrolled in the study if they fulfill the following three inclusion
criteria:

1. Protocol criteria for HAP/VAP: Criteria for making a correct diagnosis of HAP will be
met if the patient develops a new or progressive pulmonary infiltrate associated with
at least two of the following: new or increased respiratory symptomatology (cough,
sputum or tracheal secretions, shortness of breath), fever or hypothermia,
leukocytosis, left shift, or leukopenia, or deterioration of pulmonary function.

2. Isolation of MRSA from a respiratory sample or blood culture within 48 hours of the
diagnosis of HAP/VAP

3. Treatment of MRSA HAP/VAP with either vancomycin or linezolid with incorporation of
100 patients in the vancomycin arm and 100 patients in the linezolid arm