Surgical site infections with special reference to methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus: experience from a tertiary care referral hospital in North India.

ABSTRACT

Objective: Surgical site infections are an important cause of health care associated infections among surgical patients. Aim: To determine the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in surgical site infections with relation to age and sex and its antimicrobial susceptibility pattern. Methods: During a period of three years, 5,259 specimens received from surgical site infections were processed for isolation and identification of bacterial pathogens according to the standard microbiological techniques. Results: Abscess drainage was the most common type of surgical site infection (26.62%) and Staphylococcus aureus (34%) was the most common isolate. The most frequent isolation of the S. aureus in relation to age was noted in the age group of 21–40 years and the prevalence rate was higher in male patients. Out of the total S. aureus isolates, 27.96% were found to be methicillin resistant. Conclusions: There is a need for continuous surveillance and monitoring for the frequency of MRSA with its antimicrobial resistance patterns which may help in decreasing the prevalence of MRSA and antibiotic resistance.