Prevalence and anti-microbial susceptibility pattern of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus at a tertiary care hospital

Background: To study about the prevalence and anti-microbial susceptibility pattern of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).Methods: Totally 110 non-repetitive Staphylococcus aureus isolates were enrolled in this study. Isolates from different clinical specimens like pus and blood obtained from patients in tertiary care hospital and Staphylococcus aureus was identified by conventional phenotypic methods. Complete antibiotic susceptibility testing of all MRSA isolates was determined by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method.Results: Out of 110 isolates of S. aureus 60 were found to be methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The prevalence of MRSA was 54%. Out of 60 isolates, male patients 37 (63%) and female patients are 22 (37%). Maximum numbers of isolates 25 (41.6%) were from the age group of 51 to 60 years. Among these 60 isolates, all of them were found to be resistant to penicillin and oxacillin. In contrast, 98% of the isolates were found to be sensitive to linezolid. The sensitivity to chloramphenicol 70%, co-trimoxazole 60%, amikacin 58%, clindamycin 43%, ciprofloxacin 38%, erythromycin 25%.Conclusions: The observed prevalence rate was 54%. Linezolid showed the best therapeutic outcome against MRSA. Active screening plays an important role in control of MRSA.