Purpose:
To study the prevalence of resistant strains of
Staphylococcus aureus
isolated from surfaces, beds and
various equipment of an Iranian hospital emergency ward.
Methods:
Two hundred swab samples were collected from the surfaces, beds, trolleys, surgical
equipment and diagnostic medical devices in emergency ward. Samples were cultured and those that
were S. aureus-positive were confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Antimicrobial
resistance pattern was analyzed using disk diffusion method.
Results:
Nine of 200 samples (4.5 %) collected were positive for S. aureus. Surfaces (8.8 %), beds (5
%) and trolleys (5 %) were the most commonly contaminated. S. aureus isolates exhibited varying
levels of resistance against antibiotics with the following being the highest: tetracycline (88.8 %),
penicillin (88.8 %) and ampicillin (77.7 %). The prevalence of resistance against methicillin, oxacillin and
azithromycin were 44.4, 33.3 and 33.3 %, respectively. There was no pattern of resistance against
imipenem.
Conclusion:
Efficient disinfection of surfaces, beds, trolleys and surgical instruments should be
performed periodically to reduce colonization of resistant strains of S. aureus in various areas of
emergency health care centers.