Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in India: Prevalence & susceptibility pattern

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus continues to be a dangerous pathogen for both community-acquired as well as hospital-associated infections. S. aureus resistant to methicillin were reported soon after its introduction in October 19601. Methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is now endemic in India. The incidence of MRSA varies from 25 per cent in western part of India2 to 50 per cent in South India3. Community acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) has been increasingly reported from India4. A network of microbiology laboratories (Indian Network for Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance - INSAR) at premier medical colleges and hospitals in India was formed with support from the World Health Organization (Figure). The network aims to monitor antimicrobial resistance and to review the magnitude of its problem in India. Initially, a few organisms of public health importance have been chosen for monitoring their prevalence and antimicrobial resistance patterns, with S. aureus being chosen among the Gram-positive organisms. All participating laboratories shared their antimicrobial susceptibility data and provided technical support to other members. The present study provides a national level initiative to understand emerging trends of antimicrobial resistance among clinical isolates of S. aureus and provides a platform to initiate epidemiological studies for staphylococcal infections. Fig Places marked with red dots are INSAR members whose data one oncluded in teh study. Places marked *are INSAR members whose data are not included in the study.