Antibiotic sensitivity patterns of staphylococcal skin infections

ABSTRACT

To determine the current sensitivity pattern against staphylococci found in skin and soft tissue infections. Patients were enrolled from OPD of Dermatology Department, PNS Shifa Hospital, Karachi. All the patients with skin infections showing growth of Staphylococcus aureus on culture medium were selected. After informed consent, swab specimens were collected under aseptic measures from skin lesions for microbial analysis and sensitivity pattern. Among skin infections, furunculosis was found most common, comprising of 45.7% [n=43], cellulitis 15.0% [n=14], ecthyma 8.5% [n=8], erysipelas 8.5% [n=8] and impetigo 22.3% [n=21]. According to drug sensitivity patterns, vancomycin was found sensitive in 100%, linezolid 98.9%, mupirocin 96.8%, rifampicin 95.7%, chloramphenicol 94.7%, clindamycin 86.2%, amikacin 84%, moxifloxacin 83%, fusidic acid 79.8%, gentamicin 76.6%, oxacillin 69.1%, ciprofloxacin 68.1%, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid 62.8%, erythromycin 60.6% and trimethoprimsulphamethaxazole 57.4% of cases Vancomycin, linezolid, rifampicin, clindamycin, moxifloxacin and chloramphenicol showed highest efficacy in this study. However, clinical studies are required to confirm in vivo efficacy and side effect profile of these drugs