Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Staphylococcus aureus in Poland obtained by the National Quality Assurance

B Matynia1, E Młodzinska, W Hryniewicz

  • 1Division of Microbiology, National Institute of Public Health, Warsaw, Poland.

Insights

Clinical labs in Poland correctly identified most Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA). However, MRSA showed high multidrug resistance, while MSSA was largely susceptible except to penicillin and tetracycline.

Area of Science:

  • Clinical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • External quality assurance programs are crucial for monitoring laboratory performance.
  • Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA), is a significant pathogen.
  • Understanding antimicrobial susceptibility patterns is vital for effective treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the accuracy of Staphylococcus aureus identification by Polish clinical laboratories.
  • To determine the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of S. aureus, including MRSA and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) isolates.
  • To evaluate the performance of laboratories within the Polish external quality assurance scheme.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 1376 S. aureus isolates submitted from 276 medical centers as part of a national quality control program.
  • Microbiological identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of submitted isolates.
  • Evaluation of laboratory identification accuracy and resistance patterns.

Main Results:

  • Less than 1% of submitted S. aureus isolates were misidentified by local laboratories.
  • Approximately 98% of laboratories correctly identified methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates.
  • While MRSA isolates were susceptible to vancomycin, teicoplanin, and linezolid, they exhibited high multidrug resistance (23% resistant to seven agents).
  • Most MSSA isolates (>90%) were susceptible to tested antibiotics, with exceptions for penicillin (21% susceptible) and tetracycline (62.4% susceptible).

Conclusions:

  • Clinical laboratories in Poland demonstrate high proficiency in identifying S. aureus and MRSA.
  • MRSA isolates in Poland are frequently multidrug-resistant, necessitating careful treatment selection.
  • MSSA isolates show widespread susceptibility, though resistance to penicillin and tetracycline is notable.
  • The study provides critical data on S. aureus susceptibility patterns in Poland.

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