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Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
Published on: May 8, 2013
Glycopeptide and oxacillin activity against Staphylococcus aureus isolates at a tertiary care center in Lebanon
Souha S Kanj1, Patricia A Ghaleb, George F Araj
1Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut.
Background:
Worldwide reports have noted the emergence of glycopeptide-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (GISA). However, data from Lebanon is lacking.
Methods:
We conducted a study to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for oxacillin (OXA), vancomycin (VAN) and teicoplanin (TEC) against consecutive clinical isolates of S. aureus at a tertiary care center in Lebanon. The categorization of isolates as susceptible, intermediately-resistant, or resistant was based on the OXA agar screen plate (OS) and the 1 microg OXA disk diffusion (OD) according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) guidelines. The MICs of OXA, VAN and TEC against these isolates were determined using the E-test.
Results:
We tested 147 S. aureus isolates, 108 of which were methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and 39 methicillin-susceptible (MSSA). The rar ges of MICs (microg/ml) among MRSA and MSSA isolates respectively were : OXA 1.5- > or = 256 and 0.19-3; VAN 1-3 and 1.5-3; TEC 0.094-3 and 0.19-2. The MIC50/90 (microg/ml) for MRSA versus MSSA isolates were, respectively: 24/ > or = 256 vs. 1/2 for OXA; 2/3 vs. 2/2 for VAN; 1/1.5 vs. 0.75/1.5 for TEC.
Conclusion:
This data indicates that despite the presence of high rates of MRSA (around 38%), these strains remain fully susceptible to VAN and TEC. We did not detect any GISA at this tertiary care referral medical center in Lebanon.
Insights
This study found no glycopeptide-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (GISA) in Lebanon, despite high rates of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). All MRSA strains remained susceptible to vancomycin and teicoplanin.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Emergence of glycopeptide-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (GISA) is a global concern.
- Limited data exists on GISA prevalence in Lebanon.
- This study addresses the lack of local data on antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcus aureus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Staphylococcus aureus isolates in Lebanon.
- To investigate the prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and glycopeptide-intermediate S. aureus (GISA).
- To assess the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for oxacillin, vancomycin, and teicoplanin.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 147 consecutive clinical isolates of S. aureus from a tertiary care center in Lebanon.
- Categorization of isolates based on oxacillin agar screen and disk diffusion tests.
- Determination of MICs for oxacillin, vancomycin, and teicoplanin using E-test.
Main Results:
- 108 isolates were MRSA (73.5%) and 39 were methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA).
- MRSA strains showed high MICs for oxacillin but remained susceptible to vancomycin (MIC50/90: 2/3 μg/mL) and teicoplanin (MIC50/90: 1/1.5 μg/mL).
- No GISA isolates were detected.
Conclusions:
- Lebanese MRSA strains exhibit high oxacillin resistance but remain susceptible to vancomycin and teicoplanin.
- The absence of GISA suggests current treatment strategies remain effective in this region.
- Continued surveillance for antimicrobial resistance in S. aureus is crucial.
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