Abstract

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common causes of hospital- and community-acquired infections globally. The increasing prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) has led to the widespread usage of higher antibiotics such as vancomycin and linezolid, leading to the emergence of resistance to these reserved antibiotics.

Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the burden of MRSA infections in various setups.

Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted over a period of 1 year in a tertiary care hospital in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The isolates were identified as S. aureus by phenotypic methods such as Gram stain, colony morphology, and standard biochemical reactions. The antimicrobial susceptibility of all S. aureus isolates was determined. The cefoxitin disk diffusion method as per Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines was used to interpret the isolates as MRSA.

Results: Out of 12500 different types of samples processed, 190 isolates of S. aureus were identified. Among them, 102 (53.68%) were found to be MRSA and 88 (46.32%) were found to be methicillin-sensitive S. aureus.

Conclusion: The rising trend of MRSA stresses the need for continuous monitoring of MRSA and their antibiogram. Regular MRSA surveillance of health-care workers to identify MRSA carriers, strict hand hygiene compliance, and formulation of antibiotic policies to prevent overuse and misuse of antibiotics with effective infection control practices are the most effective ways to prevent MRSA infection.

Key words: Staphylococcus aureus; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Vancomycin