ABSTRACT
Objective: A prospective study aimed at isolation, biochemical identification and determination of the antibiotic resistance pattern of the bacteriologic agents causing surgical site infection in surgical wards in Sohag University hospital and confirmation of isolated MRSA by detection of mecA gene by PCR assay
Patients and Methods: This study included 100 patients suffering from nosocomial SSI and recruited from different surgical wards in Sohag University hospital in the period from October 2005 to July 2006. SSI was identified using CDC definitions. The collected samples were cultured, the isolated organisms identified, tested for their antibiotic sensitivity and mecA gene detected in the isolated MRSA strains by PCR assay
Results: Gram-negative bacteria were involved in 62 [70.5%] and Gram-positive cocci in 26 [29.5%]. Five species were isolated most frequently: Staphylococcus aureus [20], Escherichia coli [20], Pseudomonas aeruginosa [16], Proteus mirabilis [12] and Klebsiella pneumoniae [11]. Resistance to most commonly available antibiotics was moderate to very high among Gram-positive and Gram-negative isolates. Almost all Gram-negative bacteria were sensitive to imipenem and amikacin. PCR assay revealed that all the isolated Staphylococcus aureus strains [100%] were positive for mecA gene
Conclusion: It is of utmost importance to estimate the frequency of surgical site infections and identify associated risk factors in order to undertake adequate measures for their prevention and control