title: Documentation of vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) among children with atopic dermatitis in the Qassim region, Saudi Arabia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Staphylococcus aureus is known as a common pathogen in atopic dermatitis. A methicillin-resistant S. aureus strain with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin (VISA/VRSA) is increasing worldwide. The aims of this study were to evaluate the antibiotic-susceptibility pattern of S. aureus isolated from children with atopic dermatitis and to identify the occurrence of resistance to glycopeptide antibiotics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Swabs were collected from atopic dermatitis skin lesions of 80 children being treated at dermatology clinics whose ages ranged from 6 months to 15 years in the period from March 2009 to February 2010. Isolates were studied with an antibiogram for an antibiotic-susceptibility test. The selected antibiotics were the usually administered antimicrobials at dermatological clinics in Buraydah (Qassim, Saudi Arabia). Results were determined as minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) using the Vitek system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty S. aureus isolates showed resistance to streptomycin (100%), benzylpenicillin and ampicillin (96.7%), and oxacillin (90%). S. aureus resistance to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, tigecycline, and vancomycin was 63.3%, 83.3%, and 53.3%, respectively. Resistance to linezolid was less, at 5.7%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strains of MRSA with decreasing susceptibility to vancomycin were documented in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. Other studies will be required on VISA/VRSA strains concerning phenotypic and genotypic characterization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia. azolibani@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Abdullateef A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Alzolibani
authors.forename: Ahmad A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Al Robaee
authors.forename: Hani A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Al Shobaili
authors.forename: Jalal A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bilal
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Issa Ahmad
authors.forename: Ghada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bin Saif
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents