Methicillin-resistant S<it>taphylococcus aureus </it>prevalence: Current susceptibility patterns in Trinidad

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Methicillin-resistant <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>(MRSA) has become one of the most widespread causes of nosocomial infections worldwide. Recently, reports have emerged that <it>S. aureus </it>strains recov...

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Main Authors: Land Michael, Orrett Fitzroy A
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2006-05-01
Series:BMC Infectious Diseases
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/6/83
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author Land Michael
Orrett Fitzroy A
author_facet Land Michael
Orrett Fitzroy A
author_sort Land Michael
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Methicillin-resistant <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>(MRSA) has become one of the most widespread causes of nosocomial infections worldwide. Recently, reports have emerged that <it>S. aureus </it>strains recovered from community-acquired infections are also methicillin-resistant. This study was undertaken to analyze the prevalence of methicillin resistance among isolates at a regional hospital in Trinidad, and document the current resistance profile of MRSA and methicillin-sensitive <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>(MSSA) to the commonly used anti-staphylococcal agents.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Over a 6-year period we analyzed 2430 isolates of <it>S. aureus </it>strains recovered from various clinical sources, from hospital and community practices. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done according to guideline recommendations of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence of MRSA from surgical/burn wounds, urine and pus/abscess were 60.1%, 15.5% and 6.6%, respectively. The major sources of MSSA were surgical/burn wounds, pus/abscess and upper respiratory tract specimens with rates of 32.9%, 17.1% and 14.3%, respectively. The greatest prevalence of resistance of MRSA was seen for erythromycin (86.7%), and clindamycin (75.3%). Resistance rates among MSSA were highest for ampicillin (70%). Resistance rates for tetracycline were similar among both MRSA (78.7%) and MSSA (73.5%). The MRSA recovery rates from nosocomial sources (20.8%) was significantly higher than that of previous years (12.5%) (p < 0.001), whereas rates among community isolates were relatively similar for the same period (4.1% versus 8.1%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The prevalence of MRSA in the hospital increased from 12.5% in 1999 to 20.8% in 2004. Most isolates were associated with infected surgical/burn wounds which may have become infected via the hands of HCPs during dressing exercises. Infection control measures aimed at the proper hand hygiene procedures may interrupt the spread of MRSA. HCPs may also be carriers of MRSA in their anterior nares. Surveillance cultures of both patients and HCPs may help to identify carriers who would be offered antibiotics to eradicate the organisms. Most MRSA are resistant to several non-β-lactam antibiotics. Frequent monitoring of susceptibility patterns of MRSA and the formulation of a definite antibiotic policy maybe helpful in decreasing the incidence of MRSA infection.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-10d6b6e57c464dbda2dc0281e8cdbd5e2022-12-21T23:37:21ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342006-05-01618310.1186/1471-2334-6-83Methicillin-resistant S<it>taphylococcus aureus </it>prevalence: Current susceptibility patterns in TrinidadLand MichaelOrrett Fitzroy A<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Methicillin-resistant <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>(MRSA) has become one of the most widespread causes of nosocomial infections worldwide. Recently, reports have emerged that <it>S. aureus </it>strains recovered from community-acquired infections are also methicillin-resistant. This study was undertaken to analyze the prevalence of methicillin resistance among isolates at a regional hospital in Trinidad, and document the current resistance profile of MRSA and methicillin-sensitive <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>(MSSA) to the commonly used anti-staphylococcal agents.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Over a 6-year period we analyzed 2430 isolates of <it>S. aureus </it>strains recovered from various clinical sources, from hospital and community practices. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done according to guideline recommendations of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence of MRSA from surgical/burn wounds, urine and pus/abscess were 60.1%, 15.5% and 6.6%, respectively. The major sources of MSSA were surgical/burn wounds, pus/abscess and upper respiratory tract specimens with rates of 32.9%, 17.1% and 14.3%, respectively. The greatest prevalence of resistance of MRSA was seen for erythromycin (86.7%), and clindamycin (75.3%). Resistance rates among MSSA were highest for ampicillin (70%). Resistance rates for tetracycline were similar among both MRSA (78.7%) and MSSA (73.5%). The MRSA recovery rates from nosocomial sources (20.8%) was significantly higher than that of previous years (12.5%) (p < 0.001), whereas rates among community isolates were relatively similar for the same period (4.1% versus 8.1%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The prevalence of MRSA in the hospital increased from 12.5% in 1999 to 20.8% in 2004. Most isolates were associated with infected surgical/burn wounds which may have become infected via the hands of HCPs during dressing exercises. Infection control measures aimed at the proper hand hygiene procedures may interrupt the spread of MRSA. HCPs may also be carriers of MRSA in their anterior nares. Surveillance cultures of both patients and HCPs may help to identify carriers who would be offered antibiotics to eradicate the organisms. Most MRSA are resistant to several non-β-lactam antibiotics. Frequent monitoring of susceptibility patterns of MRSA and the formulation of a definite antibiotic policy maybe helpful in decreasing the incidence of MRSA infection.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/6/83
spellingShingle Land Michael
Orrett Fitzroy A
Methicillin-resistant S<it>taphylococcus aureus </it>prevalence: Current susceptibility patterns in Trinidad
BMC Infectious Diseases
title Methicillin-resistant S<it>taphylococcus aureus </it>prevalence: Current susceptibility patterns in Trinidad
title_full Methicillin-resistant S<it>taphylococcus aureus </it>prevalence: Current susceptibility patterns in Trinidad
title_fullStr Methicillin-resistant S<it>taphylococcus aureus </it>prevalence: Current susceptibility patterns in Trinidad
title_full_unstemmed Methicillin-resistant S<it>taphylococcus aureus </it>prevalence: Current susceptibility patterns in Trinidad
title_short Methicillin-resistant S<it>taphylococcus aureus </it>prevalence: Current susceptibility patterns in Trinidad
title_sort methicillin resistant s it taphylococcus aureus it prevalence current susceptibility patterns in trinidad
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/6/83
work_keys_str_mv AT landmichael methicillinresistantsittaphylococcusaureusitprevalencecurrentsusceptibilitypatternsintrinidad
AT orrettfitzroya methicillinresistantsittaphylococcusaureusitprevalencecurrentsusceptibilitypatternsintrinidad