Prevalence of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus among isolates from surgical site infections in mulago hospital, kampala, uganda.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a worldwide health problem. MRSA isolates are resistant to penicillins and all other B-lactam antibiotics. Nosocomial MRSA are also resistant to a variety of other antibiotic classes. MRSA infections are associated with a high morbidity and mortality particulary in developing countries where more expensive drugs like vancomycin are not affordable. There is limited data on the magnitude of MRSA in surgical site infections. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of MRSA among S. aureus isolates from surgical site infections in mulago hospital, kampala, Uganda. METHODS: One hundred eighty eight pus swabs were collected from patients with surgical site infections. Swabs were inoculated for culture at the microbiology laboratory faculty of medicine, Makerere university. S. aureus was identified biochemically. All S. aureus isolates were subjected to oxacillin agar screen and then tested with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for detection of the mecA gene which codes for oxacillin resistance. RESULTS: Out of the 188 specimen cultured, 54 (28.7%) grew S. aureus. Seventeen (31.5%) of the 54 isolates were confirmed as MRSA by PCR. CONCLUSION: This study shows a high prevalence of MRSA in surgical site infections in Mulago hospital.