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Updated: Oct 11, 2025
Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
Published on: May 8, 2013
Antibiotic Resistance Pattern of Staphylococcus Aureus Isolated From Pediatrics With Ocular Infections: A 6-Year
Xiao-Yu Zheng1, Bonnie Nga Kwan Choy2, Ming-Ming Zhou3
1Department of Ophthalmology, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
Insights
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is prevalent in pediatric ocular infections in China, showing high multidrug resistance. Levofloxacin is effective against MRSA, while erythromycin resistance is common.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a significant cause of pediatric ocular infections.
- Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) poses a growing threat due to antibiotic resistance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and antibiotic resistance patterns of S. aureus, particularly MRSA, in Chinese children with ocular infections.
- To guide clinical treatment strategies for pediatric ocular infections.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of S. aureus isolates from pediatric ocular infections (2015-2020).
- Analysis of susceptibility testing results for S. aureus and MRSA strains.
- Stratification of resistance patterns by patient age, ward, and specimen type.
Main Results:
- 177 S. aureus ocular isolates were identified; 25.4% were MRSA.
- MRSA showed high resistance to penicillin, erythromycin, and clindamycin, with a 71.1% multidrug resistance (MDR) rate.
- MRSA remained highly sensitive to levofloxacin. MSSA resistance patterns varied across different patient and specimen groups.
Conclusions:
- MRSA is a common and multidrug-resistant pathogen in pediatric ocular infections in Southeast China.
- Levofloxacin is a potential effective treatment for ocular MRSA infections.
- Antibiotic resistance patterns differ between MRSA and MSSA and require careful consideration for targeted therapy.
Abstract:
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is an important pathogen of ocular infections in pediatrics. The study aimed to identify the prevalence and resistance pattern of S. aureus, especially methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), in Chinese children with ocular infections. All patients with S. aureus infections were reviewed at a tertiary children's hospital during 2015-2020, and those with ocular infections were investigated for susceptibility results. Of 1,668 S. aureus strains, there were 177 unique isolates from ocular infection. Among them, 45 (25.4%) were MRSA and 132 (74.6%) were methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA). The proportion of MRSA did not change over time. Most of the strains were obtained from the neonate ward and ophthalmology department (n = 88, 49.7%, and n = 85, 48.0%, respectively), while eye secretion and pus were the main specimen types (n = 128, 72.3%, and n = 37, 20.9%, respectively). MRSA was significantly resistant against penicillin class (97.8%), erythromycin (71.1%), clindamycin (71.1%), and tetracycline (32.1%), with a high multidrug resistance (MDR) rate of 71.1%. However, MRSA was highly sensitive to levofloxacin. Resistance rates against erythromycin and ciprofloxacin as well as MDR percentage all increased among MSSA in children above 1 year of age, ophthalmology department, and outpatient population and decreased in eye secretion specimen. The mean resistance percentage remained stable for MRSA and MSSA during the study period. The survey of ocular S. aureus pathogens in pediatrics and their antibiotic resistance patterns helps in clinical treatment. MRSA with many strains demonstrating MDR is highly prevalent in children with ocular infections in Southeast China. Levofloxacin is an effective topical antibiotic for ocular MRSA infection, while erythromycin has a high resistance rate. The antibiotic resistance patterns of MRSA and MSSA differs and varies by different stratifications. A cautious use of antibiotics should be considered.
