OBJECTIVES: To compare success rates of newer antimicrobial agents to vancomycin for treatment of MRSA cSSTIs using a Bayesian meta-analysis. METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted of Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases to identify clinical trials on dalbavancin, daptomycin, linezolid, telavancin, teicoplanin, tigecycline, and vancomycin in cSSTIs. Data extraction, study quality, and heterogeneity assessments were completed by two independent reviewers.  Pooled efficacy estimates were generated based on clinical and microbiological success rates for the MRSA-subgroups in the cSSTI clinical trials using a Bayesian approach. The base case used a random effects model with outcome predicted by medication and confounders of success definition, dosing, age and gender. Sensitivity analyses included testing impact of base case confounders, fixed vs random effects models, article quality, and difference in success definition. RESULTS: Of 35 initially identified studies, 14 trials on six treatments with 28 treatment arms (n=1840) met the inclusion criteria for the MRSA subpopulation and were included in the analysis. No MRSA-specific data were reported for teicoplanin, thus it was not included. MRSA-confirmed cSSTI pooled success rates and 95% credible intervals for the base case analysis were: vancomycin 74.7% (64.1-83.5%), linezolid 84.4% (76.6-90.6%), daptomycin 78.1% (54.6-93.2%), tigecycline 70.4% (48.0-87.6%), dalbavancin 87.7% (74.6-95.4%), and telavancin 83.5% (73.6-90.8%). The estimated difference with vancomycin was significant for dalbavancin, linezolid and telavancin. The finding of lower vancomycin efficacy in MRSA cSSTI was consistent in a variety of sensitivity analyses, indicating the results were robust. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis suggests higher success rates for the novel glycopeptides and linezolid in the treatment of MRSA-confirmed cSSTIs. The uncertainty margins reflect the limited numbers of patients available for some agents and the indirect nature of the treatment comparisons. Further evidence from randomized clinical trials is needed to more definitively establish the value of the newer antimicrobials in MRSA cSSTIs.