STUDY OF METHICILLIN RESISTANCE IN STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS AND SPECIES OF COAGULASE NEGATIVE STAPHYLOCOCCI ISOLATED FROM VARIOUS CLINICAL SPECIMENS

Abstract

Objective: To identify the Methicillin Resistant Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (MRCONS) and Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from clinical specimens and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. Methodology: All strains were recovered from clinical specimens according to 0.5 McFarland standard inoculated on Muller Hinton agar. Antibacterial susceptibility was tested by disks diffusion method. Results: Of 346 Staphylococci, 250 (72.25%) were identified as methicillin resistance. From these strains, ninety three (37.2%) were MRSA and 157 (62.8%) identified as MRCONS. The highest rate of MRCONS identified in S. haemolyticus and the lowest rate of MRCONS belonged to S. intermedius and S. schleiferi. The susceptibility pattern of MRSA and MRCONS against other antimicrobial agents revealed that the lowest resistance was for vancomycin. Conclusions: The rate of MRCONS was more than MRSA and vancomycin was the most effective antibiotic against those organisms. As such, this antibiotic is the drug of choice for treatment in such cases.