Prevalence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
Keywords:
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, MRSA, Antimicrobial Susceptibility.Abstract
The isolation rate of MRSA from different specimens was determined. Between January 1999 and June 2002, 448 out of 1322 (35.67%) isolates were found to be MRSA. A detailed study of these isolates showed a high prevalence of MRSA in patients in ICU’s and special care wards. The yield of MRSA was highest from endotracheal secretions (100%), bronchial washings (70%), and catheter tips (51.85%) followed by sputum (40.54%), ear swabs (40%), fluids (37.25%), pus/wound swabs (34.83%) and blood cultures (28.07%). Vancomycin remains the drug of choice with no resistance detected. The resistance to ciprofloxacin was 86.61%, to erythromycin 85.5% and to gentamicin 81.03%. After vancomycin, fusidic acid was the most sensitive drug with only 21.21% of the isolates exhibiting resistance. In view of the high prevalence of MRSA in our community, authorities must introduce more effective measures to control its spread, otherwise it may seriously disrupt the efficient delivery of the health system in the country.
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