 The Author 0000. Objectives: To analyse the possible relationship between consumption of old and new MRSA-active antibiotics and burden of MRSA in acute care hospitals in Catalonia during the period 0000-00. Methods: Fifty-four hospitals participating in the VINCat Programme were included. Proportion of MRSA (resistant isolates of Staphylococcus aureus per 000 isolates of S. aureus tested), incidence of new cases of infection [new cases of MRSA per 0000 occupied bed-days (OBD)] and incidence of cases of bacteraemia (MRSA bacteraemia cases per 0000 OBD) were determined to estimate the annual MRSA burden. Antibiotic consumption was calculated in DDD/000 OBD. Cost was expressed in euros/000 OBD. Results: MRSA rates remained stable over the study period, with the proportion of MRSA ranging from 00% to 00.00% in 0000 and 0000, respectively (P=0.000). Consumption of old MRSA-active antibiotics (vancomycin and teicoplanin) did not change significantly, with values from 0.00 to 0.00 DDD/000 OBD (P=0.000). Consumption of new MRSA-active antibiotics (linezolid and daptomycin) increased significantly, with values rising from 0.00 to 0.00 DDD/000 OBD (P<0.000). Cost increased by almost 000%. Conclusions: A widespread and steady increase in consumption of new MRSA-active antibiotics was observed among acute care hospitals in Catalonia, in spite of a stable MRSA burden. At the same time, consumption of old drugs remained stable. Such trends resulted in a significant increase in cost. Our findings suggest that factors other than the proportion of methicillin resistance among S. aureus may influence the use of old and new MRSA-active antibiotics in the clinical setting.