Address of Corresponding Author

Med Princ Pract 2006;15:52-55 (DOI: 10.1159/000089386)

  Key Words

• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
• Antimicrobial resistance
• Nosocomial infection

  Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains among clinical isolates collected from the 4 tertiary hospitals in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, and to test the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of S. aureus isolates against 9 antimicrobial agents. Materials and Methods: A total of 512 S. aureus clinical isolates were collected during a period of 1 year starting in April 2003 in Al-Noor, King Abdul-Aziz, Hera and King Faisal Hospitals, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The sensitivity patterns of these isolates were determined using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Results: The prevalence of MRSA among S. aureus isolates was 38.9% (199/512). Among 199 MRSA isolates, 78.8% showed multidrug resistance to erythromycin, gentamicin and oxytetracycline. Conclusion: The rate of MRSA resistance in this study was much higher than what had been reported in other areas of Saudi Arabia emphasizing the need for local or country-based surveillance to characterize and monitor MRSA and to develop strategies that will improve MRSA treatment and control.

Copyright © 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

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  Author Contacts

Dr. Aiman M. Momenah
PO Box 6630
Makkah (Saudi Arabia)
Tel. +966 503501449, Fax +966 25270000, ext. 7111
E-Mail aiman34@hotmail.com

  Article Information

Received: December 12, 2004
Revised: June 8, 2005
Number of Print Pages : 4
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 25

  Publication Details

Medical Principles and Practice (International Journal of the Kuwait University Health Sciences Centre)

Vol. 15, No. 1, Year 2006 (Cover Date: December 2005)

Journal Editor: Al-Zaid, N.S. (Kuwait)
ISSN: 1011-7571 (print), 1423-0151 (Online)

For additional information: http://www.karger.com/MPP

  Drug Dosage / Copyright

Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in goverment regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug. Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher or, in the case of photocopying, direct payment of a specified fee to the Copyright Clearance Center.