Final answer:
The treatment for mastitis in patients with a low risk of MRSA includes narrow-spectrum antibiotics such as cephalexin. Broad-spectrum antibiotics, while effective against MRSA, are not the first line of treatment when the risk of MRSA is low. Completing the full course of antibiotics is essential to reduce the risk of resistant bacteria survival.
Step-by-step explanation:
The treatment of mastitis in patients with a low risk of MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus) can involve the use of narrow-spectrum antibiotics, which are targeted at the bacteria likely causing the infection. In this case, the correct choice would be a) Cephalexin, which is known to be effective against typical strains of Staphylococcus aureus, including those not resistant to methicillin. Since the question specifies the low risk of MRSA, broader-spectrum antibiotics such as vancomycin, clindamycin, or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, which are used to treat MRSA, would not be the first line of treatment. Instead, a medication like cephalexin would be selected due to its effectiveness against non-resistant strains and its lower likelihood of promoting antibiotic resistance compared to the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics.
As resistance to antibiotics is a significant concern, the use of a more targeted antibiotic like cephalexin helps to minimize the risk of contributing to the decline of resistant bacteria populations. Additionally, regardless of the antibiotic prescribed, it is crucial for patients to complete the entire course of the medication to reduce the risk of resistant bacteria surviving and potentially causing a second infection or spreading to others.