[Methicillin-resistance of Staphylococcus aureus in Abidjan (1998-2001): a new hospital problem]

The authors had for aim to determine the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains on infections in Abidjan as well as their susceptibility to other antibiotics.

Three hundred and forty strains of S. aureus from various samples of hospitalized patients were studied. Methicillin-resistance was assessed using oxacillin disk diffusion in agar. The MRSA, once detected, were confirmed by screening in Mueller-Hinton agar containing oxacillin at 6 microg/ml. The susceptibility to other antibiotics was analyzed using an antibiogram in agar medium.

Twenty-five percent of strains were resistant to methicillin (MRSA strains). Those MRSA were identified mainly in blood culture (14.2%), pus (4%) and urine (1.9%). Samples were collected in neonatal unit (13%), surgical units (5.4%) and intensive care unit (3.4%). A variable proportion of MRSA expressed resistance to other families of antibiotics: aminoglycosides 77.6%, rifampicin 8.8%, fluoroquinolones 34.1% and vancomycin 5.9%.

Circulation of multidrug resistant MRSA in hospital, especially in neonatal unit, should lead to surveillance. Risk factors and other associated markers need to be identified.