[Methicillin-resistance of Staphylococcus aureus in Abidjan (1998-2001): a new hospital problem].
OBJECTIVE
The authors had for aim to determine the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains on infections in Abidjan as well as their susceptibility to other antibiotics.


METHODS
Three hundred and forty strains of S. aureus from various samples of hospitalized patients were studied. Methicillin-resistance was assessed using oxacillin disk diffusion in agar. The MRSA, once detected, were confirmed by screening in Mueller-Hinton agar containing oxacillin at 6 microg/ml. The susceptibility to other antibiotics was analyzed using an antibiogram in agar medium.


RESULTS
Twenty-five percent of strains were resistant to methicillin (MRSA strains). Those MRSA were identified mainly in blood culture (14.2%), pus (4%) and urine (1.9%). Samples were collected in neonatal unit (13%), surgical units (5.4%) and intensive care unit (3.4%). A variable proportion of MRSA expressed resistance to other families of antibiotics: aminoglycosides 77.6%, rifampicin 8.8%, fluoroquinolones 34.1% and vancomycin 5.9%.


CONCLUSIONS
Circulation of multidrug resistant MRSA in hospital, especially in neonatal unit, should lead to surveillance. Risk factors and other associated markers need to be identified.
Akoua-Koffi
C
C
Laboratoire de bactériologie-virologie, CHU de Yopougon, UFR sciences médicales d'Abidjan, institut Pasteur de Côte-d'Ivoire, 01 BP 490 Abidjan, Côte-d'Ivoire. akouamc@yahoo.fr
Guessennd
N
N
Gbonon
V
V
Faye-Ketté
H
H
Dosso
M
M
D007560:Cote d'Ivoire; D003428:Cross Infection; D003625:Data Collection; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity