The Active Surveillance of Staphylococcus aureus using Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Identification Method among Hospitalized-patient of Haji Adam Malik General Hospital, Medan, Indonesia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Active surveillance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriers is associated with the lower incidence of bacteremia and lower mortality rates throughout literature; yet, this important step still remains problematic for developing countries, particularly Indonesia. AIM: The study aimed to demonstrate MRSA colonization rate in Haji Adam Malik Hospital, Medan, Indonesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study enrolled 200 mucocutaneous isolates obtained from hospitalized patients during a 1-year period of study (2018). VITEK-2 system in addition to standard bacterial identification, such as gram staining, latex agglutination test, and hemolysis pattern, was performed to select S. aureus colonies in two different laboratories, Microbiology laboratory of Haji Adam Malik General Hospital and Multidisciplinary Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) examination. RESULTS: Based on the VITEK-2 system preliminary identification, there were 80 S. aureus colonies which then underwent PCR examination. Through standard PCR assay, there were 32 bacterial isolates contained the mecA gene and it can be determined MRSA colonization rate of the hospital was 16% with consistent results of standard bacterial identification. CONCLUSIONS: Active surveillance of MRSA carriers is mandatory and urged it as a regular program in a hospital setting to decrease MRSA transmission rate.