title: Susceptibility profile of methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureusto linezolid in clinical isolates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the resistance and sensitivity pattern of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates to linezolid (LZD) along with its prevalence in a tertiary care hospital of Karachi, Pakistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was carried out. This study lasted for about 1 year. Prevalence and sensitivity of LZD, vancomycin, and oxacillin was tested against isolates of MRSA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of total 369 specimens 165 were found to be MRSA making the prevalence in our study 44.7%. All of the isolates which were tested positive for MRSA were susceptible to LZD and no resistance was noted when compared with previous studies performed in Europe and USA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stringent implementation of infection control measures along with screening for resistance in patients on prolonged LZD therapy or who previously went under LZD therapy should be performed, coupled with judicious usage of the aforementioned antibiotic should be undertaken, as sufficient data is not available at this point for the clinical spectrum of LZD resistant S. aureus, antimicrobial resistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Dr. Ziauddin, Medical University Hospital, Sindh, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shariq
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Dr. Ziauddin University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Syed Bilal
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Tanvir
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan.
authors.forename: Atif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaman
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Dr. Ziauddin University Hospital, Karachi, Sindh, Karachi Pakistan.
authors.forename: Salman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Dr. Ziauddin University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Armeena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anis
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Dr. Ziauddin Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Misha Aftab
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Dr. Ziauddin Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sumaira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmed
keywords: Linezolid resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus aureus; methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus