Nosocomial methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus frequency in a tertiary care hospital, Lahore, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] is one of the most important nosocomial pathogens world wide. The present descriptive study was carried out to determine the frequency of MRSA isolates in Jinnah Hospital Lahore, which is a major tertiary care hospital. Staphylococcus aureus [S. aureus] isolates recovered from various clinical samples received from inpatient departments of Jinnah Hospital Lahore [JHL] were included in the study. Screening for MRSA was done by modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique according to the CLSI guide lines. A total of 864 isolates of S. aureus were cultured. Two hundred and forty [27.77%] were found to be MRSA. Maximum isolation was from endotracheal tubes and ceritral venous [CV] catheters. MRSA infections are emerging as a serious health problem in our set up. Joint efforts by clinicians, clinical microbiologists, hospital management and public health authorities are required to meet the challenge of MRSA on the forefront