Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus: prevalence and antibiogram in a tertiary care hospital in western Nepal.
BACKGROUND
Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major cause of nosocomial and community infections. Its prevalence varies with country and with hospitals within a country. The current study estimates the prevalence of MRSA strains and investigates their antibiogram in western Nepal.


METHODS
A total of 162 S. aureus strains were isolated from various clinical specimens, and antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed using disc diffusion, growth on oxacillin screen agar, and oxacillin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC).


RESULTS
One hundred and twelve (69.1%) strains were found to be MRSA, of which 37 (33.1%) were community acquired and 75 (66.9%) were hospital acquired. Of 112 MRSA strains, 45 (40.1%) were multi-drug resistant. All MRSA strains were found resistant to penicillin, and 91.9%, 87.4%, 77%, and 55.5% were resistant to amoxicillin, ampicillin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and cephalexin, respectively. However, low resistance was observed with amikacin (19%), ciprofloxacin (26.5%), and norfloxacin (30.6%). All strains were sensitive to vancomycin.


CONCLUSIONS
The reported rate of MRSA prevalence is alarming. Given the ability of MRSA to spread from person to person, it is necessary to adhere to rational use of antibiotics and to raise awareness among the concerned communities and tourists who visit this area.
Department of Microbiology, Universal College of Medical Sciences, Bhairahawa, Lumbini Zone, Nepal. hktiwari_2005@rediffmail.com
Hare Krishna
HK
Tiwari
Ayan Kumar
AK
Das
Darshan
D
Sapkota
Kunjukunju
K
Sivrajan
Vijay Kumar
VK
Pahwa
D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*