Evaluation of Antibiotic Sensitivity in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolates From Clinical Specimens in a Tertiary Care Hospital.

BACKGROUND

Common Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus can cause infections ranging from minor skin conditions to serious illnesses like sepsis.Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) emerged in the 1960s and now causes over 50% of hospital infections. In India, MRSA prevalence ranges from 25% in the west to 50% in the south. Contributing factors include prolonged hospital stays and indiscriminate antibiotic use. This study investigates the prevalence and antibiotic resistance patterns of MRSA in clinical isolates from a hospital in Karad. MRSA's resistance to multiple antibiotics, including vancomycin, poses significant treatment challenges, with limited therapeutic options such as vancomycin, linezolid, daptomycin, and teicoplanin remaining effective. The antibiotics mentioned provide a broader context for understanding MRSA resistance. In this study, only those specifically relevant to the hospital's data have been included in detail in the result table antibiogram of MRSA.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

A two-year laboratory-based analysis of MRSA strains in a hospital that provides tertiary care was conducted to assess their antibiotic susceptibility profiles.

RESULTS

In all, 100 isolates of MRSA were examined for patterns of antibiotic susceptibility in various clinical specimens. Among these 41 (41%) were from pus samples, 18 (18%) from wound swabs/discharge, 15 (15%) from urine, 13 (13%) from blood, 4% from sputum, and 3% from tips were found to have smaller percentages than umbilical swabs (2 (2%)) and tissue (1 (1%)) and vaginal swabs( 1 (1%)) and sinus tract samples (1 (1%)). The frequency of MRSA strains was more in males (59%). Linezolid showed the highest sensitivity at 86%.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the growing challenge of MRSA and other resistant bacteria in hospital settings, complicating treatment choices. Effective MRSA​​​​​​​ management requires stringent antibiotic policy, infection control procedures, and thorough susceptibility testing. These strategies are critical to preserving viable treatment options and combating antibiotic resistance in healthcare environments.