BACTERIOPHAGE PATTERN AND METHICILLIN RESISTANCE OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS ISOLATED FROM HOSPITALISED PATIENTS

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

• Staphylococcus aureus is a significant cause of hospital-acquired infections.
• Methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a major treatment challenge.
• Phage typing is a traditional method for differentiating bacterial strains.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize Staphylococcus aureus strains from hospitalized patients using phage grouping and typing.
• To determine the prevalence of methicillin resistance among these strains.
• To assess the utility of phage typing in the context of emerging resistance patterns.

Main Methods:

• Isolation and identification of Staphylococcus aureus from clinical samples.
• Phage grouping and phage typing of the isolated strains.
• Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, focusing on methicillin resistance.

Main Results:

• 48.9% of strains were nontypable by the available phages.
• 25% of strains belonged to the mixed phage group.
• A majority of strains exhibited methicillin resistance, with 73.3% of nontypable strains and 52% of mixed-group strains being resistant.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights a high prevalence of methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus, particularly in strains that are difficult to type.
• Inadequacy of current phage typing sets for comprehensive strain differentiation was observed.
• Variability in phage groups and types across different locations suggests the need for updated typing methodologies and surveillance.