Objectives: To determine the methicillin-resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
among the clinical isolates at a Microbiology Diagnostic Center in Kashmir, and to
test the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of these isolates.
Methods: A total of 113 S. aureus from different clinical specimens were isolated
over a period of two years from December 2005 to November 2007 at Al-Haram
Diagnostic Research and Training Center, Kashmir, India. All these isolates were
subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing using the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion
method.
Results: The prevalence of MRSA among S.aureus isolates was 23.9%. About 96.2%
MRSA isolates were resistant to Gentamycin, 88.8% were resistant to Tetracycline,
81.4% were resistant to Clindamycin, 77.7% to Erythromycin and 74.0% to Cotrimoxazole.
Multidrug resistance was less common amongst the methicillin-sensitive
Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) isolates. No isolates were found to be resistant to
Vancomycin.
2
Conclusion: Vancomycin seems to be the only antimicrobial agent which shows
100% sensitivity even with multidrug resistance. However, regular monitoring of
vancomycin sensitivity and routine testing of newer glycopeptides should be carried
out further. Also, there is an immediate need to develop strategies that will improve
MRSA treatment and control. (Rawal Med J 2009; 34:92-94)
Key words: Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, MSSA.
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