The current susceptibility pattern of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus to antibiotics in Port Harcourt

Abstract

The antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from in-patients and out-patients at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) was studied. Fifty, S. aureus organisms were isolated from routine clinical specimens such as high vaginal, wound, urethral and ear swabs. The organisms were identified morphologically and biochemically by standard laboratory procedures. MRSA screening was performed using oxacillin disc diffusion test and the effects of five antibiotics against the 50 S. aureus isolates were investigated. Eighteen (36%) of the isolates were methicillin (oxacillin) resistant, of these 12 (24%) were from inpatients and 6 (12%) were from out patients. Eighty percent (80%) of the isolates were susceptible to Augumentin, 78% to Ceftriaxone, 58% to Ceftazidime, 92% to Aprofloxacin, 94% to Vancomycin and 64% to Oxacilin. There is an emerging trend of vancomycin resistance among S. aureus isolates from UPTH.