title: High rate of oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates in an Italian University Hospital.
abstract: We reviewed our routine clinical laboratory records from January 1990 to March 1993 to evaluate the rate of oxacillin-resistance among nosocomial isolates of Staphylococcus aureus. Of 265 clinically significant isolates, 174 (65%) were oxacillin-resistant S. aureus (ORSA). Most of these strains were obtained from surgery patients and/or were isolated from surgical wounds. The isolations of S. aureus increased during the study period: 45 in 1990, 50 in 1991, 130 in 1992 and 40 in the first trimester of 1993. The annual rates of ORSA among S. aureus isolated varied from 62 to 68% through these years. Most ORSA isolates proved resistant to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin and rifampicin, and susceptible to vancomycin, netilmicin and cotrimoxazole. Based on these results, the need for a stringent application of infection control measures is outlined.
authors.affiliation: Servizio Aggregato di Consulenze Infettivologiche, Università La Sapienza, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Venditti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baiocchi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brandimarte
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capone
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fimiani
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tarasi
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010068:Oxacillin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D010068:Oxacillin