Purpose: To investigate the occurrence, species prevalence, antibacterial resistance, and molecular
characteristics of
S. aureus
isolates from different wards located in a university hospital.
Methods: A total of one hundred and fifty
S. aureus isolates were recovered from various clinical
specimens. The isolates were tested phenotypically by conventional methods and genotypically by
polymease chain reaction (PCR) for direct detection of femB and mecA genes.
Results: Thirty one isolates (20.7 %) of these were identified as methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus
aureus (MRSA) by oxacillin agar screen test and 124 (82.7 %) of the isolates were β-lactamase
producers. The prevalence of MRSA strains among S. aureus isolates was 20.7 %. The overall
resistance of MRSA to a variety of antibiotics tested was linezolid, 48.7 %; ciprofloxacin, 15.3 %; sulfamethoxazole/
trimethoprim (TMS), 14.0 %; gentamicin, 12.7 %; and rifampicin, 6.7 %. All MRSA isolates
were positive for femB and mecA genes; one MSSA carried mecA gene.
Conclusion: Since
S. aureus isolates are commonly associated with wound infections, skin and soft
tissue infections and blood stream infections, glycopeptides, mupirocin, and quinupristin/dalfopristin
(Q/D) would be the most effective antibiotics for the treatment of MRSA infections.
