Abstract

PREVALENCE AND ANTIBIOGRAM OF METHICILLIN RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS ISOLATED FROM SURGICAL SITE INFECTIONS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Dr. Chandrashekhar D. Kadganchi*, Dr. Sonu Panwar

Abstract

Surgical site infections (SSI) are an important cause of hospital acquired infections among surgical patients. They are the second most commonly reported nosocomial infection and they count for approximately a quarter of all nosocomial infections. Staphylococcus aureus has been recognized for a long time as one of the leading causes of wound and hospital infections all over the world. An increase in the prevalence of Methicillin-resistant-Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been observed globally during the last decade. Knowledge of prevalence and antibiotic sensitivity pattern of MRSA will be helpful in the selection of appropriate antimicrobial therapy and helps in formulating appropriate infection control measures. This was a retrospective study conducted at a tertiary care hospital in South India, using the case records from microbiology laboratory from March 2011 to March 2012. Wound swabs were collected aseptically with a sterile cotton wool swab from different wards. Samples were inoculated onto 5% Blood agar and MacConkey agar. Testing for Methicillin resistance was performed by modified Kirby Bauer Disc Diffusion method using Cefoxitin (30μg) as recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute. Most infections were from Orthopedics department and least from pediatric department. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common Gram positive organism and Pseudomonas was the most common Gram negative organism isolated. Out of 90 Staphylococcus aureus, 19 (21.1%) were Methicillin resistant. Highest resistance was seen with Penicillin (100%) and least resistance to Teicoplanin and Linezolid (0%). One isolate was resistant to Vancomycin. Every hospital is different and so are its infections. The antibiogram of organisms is not constant and keeps changing over a period of time. Regular antibiotic susceptibility studies will help to formulate hospital infection control guidelines, help clinicians in choosing an appropriate prophylactic antimicrobials and limit the use of powerful antibiotics like Vancomycin and Linezolid.

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