A HOSPITAL BASED PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF PREVALENCE OF METHICILLIN RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS IN DERMATOLOGY INDOOR PATIENTS BY PHENOTYPIC METHOD

Introduction: Methicillin-Resitant Staphylococcus aureus is a cause of increased morbidity and mortality in debilitated and immunocompromised indoor patients. Aim: The aim of our study was to see the prevalence of Methicillin -Resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in dermatology indoor patients by phenotypic method and elucidate its predisposing factors and antibiotic sensitivity pattern. Methods: This was a hospital based prospective study which included all dermatology indoor patients with primary and secondary bacterial infection. Results: The study enrolled 110 indoor patients with 57 males and 53 females. The mean age of the study was 39.23 years ranging between 2-90 years. Vesicobullous disorders were the commonest dermatoses with secondary infection. Diabetes mellitus was the most common comorbidity being present in 18 patients. S. aureus was the commonest bacterial isolate grown in culture in 66 patients, accounting for 60% of the total isolate. MRSA isolates accounted for 24.55% (27) of the total isolates. Majority of the MRSA patients (n=23, 85.19%) were having HAMRSA, while only 4 MRSA patients (n=4, 14.81%) were having CAMRSA. All MRSA isolates were sensitive to vancomycin and linezolid, while all the MRSA isolates were resistant to cefoxitin, oxacillin, cloxacillin, ampicillin and ciprofloxacillin. Conclusion: The prevalence of MRSA in our study was high. A high percentage of both MSSA and MRSA isolates were sensitive to gentamicin, which is a cheaper, effective and widely available antibiotic.