Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Skin and Soft Tissue Infection in Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital, Southern India

Abstract

Background Staphylococcus aureus is a highly virulent human pathogen known to cause various hospital acquired and community-acquired infections. S. aureus is capable of rapid evolutionary change needed to overcome obstacles including the effect of various antibiotics. The emergence of drug resistant strains i.e. MRSA and multidrug resistance is a cause of concern for the treatment of S. aureus infection. The main objective of the present study was to determine the distribution of S. aureus infection in the skin and soft tissue infections and its drug resistance pattern.Methods A total of 100 non-duplicate puswound swabs from 50 males and 50 females were collected from skin and soft tissue infections. Samples were processed by microscopy culture and identified by standard biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing for S. aureus was performed by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus MRSA isolates were detected using cefoxitin disk 30 microg. The demographic details of patients were collected. The infection rate with S. aureus was assessed.Results Out of 100 non-duplicate isolates 77 were infected with S. aureus. Male patients showed higher rate of infection 90 compared to female patients 64. The rate of MRSA isolate was 49. All the MRSA isolates were 100 sensitive to vancomycin teicoplanin and linezolid.Conclusion A high rate of S. aureus infection 77 was seen among skin and soft tissue infections. The proportion of MRSA was 49. No resistance was detected for vancomycin teicoplanin and linezolid. Continuous surveillance should be conducted to check the development of antibiotic resistance rate and based on these reports antimicrobial stewardship policy should be made.