35 Antibiotic Resistant patterns in MRSA Tanaffos (2004) 3(11), 37-44 2004 NRITLD, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, IranAntibiotic Resistant Patterns in MRSA Isolates from Patients Admitted in ICU and Infectious Ward Parviz Vahdani 1, Mahnaz Saifi 2, Mohammad Mehdi Aslani 2, Ahmad Ali Asarian 1, Kamran Sharafi 1
1 Department of Infectious Diseases, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, 2 Department of Microbiology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, TEHRAN-IRAN ABSTRACT
Background: Methicillin- Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) has become one of the highest – ranking hospital acquired pathogens throughout the world, capable of causing a wide range of hospital infections. Staphylococcus aureus is a major nosocomial pathogen that causes a range of diseases, including endocarditis, osteomyelitis, pneumonia, toxic shock syndrome, food poisoning, carbuncles, and boils. Materials and Methods: One hundred S.aureus isolates recovered from patients in Loghman Hakim hospital were included in this study. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of strains for methicillin was determined by broth macrodilution method as recommended by NCCLS. Antibiotic susceptibility was tested by using the “disk diffusion technique on Mueller-Hinton Agar”. Nineteen antibiotics were tested including Ampicillin, Penicillin, Cephalexin, Cefepime, Gentamicin, Doxycycline, Erythromycin, Chloramphenicol, Tetracycline, Nitrofurantoin, Kanamycin, Amikacine, Cefotaxime, Clindamycin, Cefazolin, Amoxicillin, Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, Vancomycin, and Ciprofloxacin. Results: The MIC range for methicillin was from 1µg/ml to 1024µg/ml. Ninety percent of the isolated strains had methicillin MIC≥ 16µg/ml and were designated as resistant. Vancomycin and Chloramphenicol were the most effective antibiotics and only 7% and 14% of the isolates were resistant respectively. Forty-four percent hospital acquired MRSA strains were resistant to Co-trimoxazole. The high antibiotic resistance among MRSA strains could be originated due to widespread use of Conclusion: Out of 90 MRSA isolates characterized in this study, approximately half of them displayed resistance to one or more antimicrobial agents, including Penicillin, Cephalosporins, Tetracycline and aminoglycosides. These data are in accord with previous study suggesting use of these drugs was important in the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in MRSA. In addition, 66% of MRSA isolates were sensitive to Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (Co-Trimoxazole). Since this drug combination is recommended for treating a range of human infections, S.aureus isolates should be monitored for further emergence of Co-Trimoxazole resistance. (Tanaffos 2004;3(11): 37-44) Key words: Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus), Antibiotic Resistant
Correspondence to: Vahdani P Tel: +98-9123277456 Email address: parvizvahdani@yahoo.com
38 Antibiotic Resistant Patterns in MRSA
Staphylococcus aureus is a major nosocomial
MRSA has emerged as a significant cause of both
pathogen that causes a range of diseases, including
nosocomial and community acquired infections in
endocarditis, osteomyelitis, pneumonia, toxic shock
Iran now. In a recent study in Shiraz, Iran 37.7% of
syndrome, food poisoning, carbuncles and boils (1).
the isolates were methicillin – resistant and
In the early 1950s acquisition and spread of beta –
resistance to vancomycin or rifampin was not seen
lactamase producing plasmids thwarted the (8). The aim of this study was to determine effectiveness of penicillin for treating S.aureus
methicillin – resistant phenotype in isolated S.aureus
infections. In the year 1959, methicillin, a synthetic
and also to ascertain the susceptibility pattern of
Since first reported by Jevons in 1961, methicilin-
resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been
implicated as a pathogen in hospital-acquired
The Staphylococcal infection was confirmed by
infections causing endemic and epidemic infections
clinical and paraclinical conditions. All strains were
in health care centers world wide (2). The proportion
isolated from patients in whom S.aureus was the sole
of nosocomial infections caused by MRSA increased
or predominant causative infectious agent. Skin,
substantially, and MRSA is now a leading cause of
wounds, sputum, and external ear were the potential
sites for contamination; therefore, only the isolates
Recent studies suggest that the epidemiology of
from these sites were accepted where the S.aureus
MRSA may be changing, as isolation of MRSA is no
was the dominant pathogen. The isolates were from
longer limited to hospitalized persons or persons with
different parts of body. The number and percentage
predisposing risk factors. MRSA infections as
of isolated strains from different sites of body was
emerging pathogens are responsible for substantial
diseases and death (5, 6). While no satisfactory
Isolated strains were identified by standard
biochemical test. In brief, gram-positive cocci that
explanation exists for the recent proliferation of
were catalase and coagulase positive were identified
MRSA, expanded use of antimicrobial drugs in
outside the hospitals has been suggested as a major
Antibiotic susceptibility was tested by using the
contributor in emerging resistance in community (7).
disk diffusion technique on Mueller-Hinton agar,
Health care workers and infection control
according to the procedures established by the
personnel depend on the laboratory for the reliable
“National Committee for Clinical Laboratory
detection of MRSA in clinical specimens. This has
Standards” (NCCLS). Plates were incubated at 37ºc
implications for treatment, invasive infections,
for 18h for antibiotics (9). The antibiotics tested were
perioperative prophylaxis, and infection control
Ampicillin, Penicillin, Cephalexin, Cefepime,
procedures. Surveillance of MRSA locally, Gentamicin, Doxycycline, Erythromycin,
nationally and globally depends on accurate
Chloramphenicol, Tetracycline, Nitrofurantoin,
laboratory reporting. Nosocomial MRSA strains in
Kanamycin, Amikacine, Cefotaxime, Clindamycin,
the community including nursing homes and other
Cefazolin, Amoxicillin, Sulfamethoxazole–
care facilities, may be transmitted by discharged
Trimethoprim, Vancomycin, and Ciprofloxacin
(B.BL, Becton Dickenson Microbiology system).
Mueller-Hinton agar supplemented with 2% NaCl
The MIC range for methicillin was from 1µg/ml
and Methicillin (5µg/ml) (Sigma Co.St.Louis, USA)
to 1024µg/ml. The MIC range was shown in table 2.
was used for screening of MRSA. In this method, the
Nearly 90% of the isolated strains had methicillin
inoculum’s suspension was prepared by MIC≥ 16µg/ml and were designated as resistant. Ten
microdilution method and inoculated with 104 cfu/ml
percent of strains were methicillin–sensitive
S.aureus strains. After 24 hours incubation at 35ºc
the test plates were examined for any evidence of
growth. Isolates were defined as resistant or sensitive
The MIC at which 50% of isolates are inhibited,
according to detecting “growth” or “no growth” on
The MIC50 and MIC90 were 256 µg/ml and 16 µg/ml
respectively. Otherwise, results obtained from plate
Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of
method demonstrated 65 (72%) strains that had no
strains for methicillin was determined by broth
growth on methicillin plate. Thus, disk diffusion
macrodilution method as recommended by NCCLS.
method alone without MIC is not reliable.
S.aureus ATCC 29213 was used as the control strain
The antibiotic susceptibility patterns of MSSA
and MRSA to nineteen antibiotics tested are shown
in figure-1 and figure 2, respectively. Analyzing the
The isolates were from different parts of body.
antibiotic susceptibilities to the nineteen antibiotics
The number and percentage of isolated strains from
tested with the 90 isolates of MRSA showed 100%
different sites of body was shown in Table 1.
resistant to penicillin, 92% to ampicillin, and 93% to
cefotaxime. Comparison of antimicribial resistance
Table 1. The number and percentage of isolated strains from different
frequencies for S.aureus is shown in figure 2.
Vancomycin and Chloramphenicol were the most
effective antibiotics and only 7% and 14% of isolates
Body sites
were resistant respectively. Nitrofurantoin,
gentamycin, amikacine, ciprofloxacin and other
cephalosporins like cefepim and cefazolin were at the
second row. These antibiotics represented the second
most effective agents. Our study showed that 44% of
hospital acquired MRSA strains were resistant to co-
Table 2. The MIC range of methicillin – among isolated strains of methicillin resistant S.aureus. MRSA had MIC 16≥ µg/ml.
1024 512 256 128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1 0.5 0.25 -
40 Antibiotic Resistant Patterns in MRSA Figure 1. Comparison of antimicrobial resistance frequencies for S. aureus.
P: Penicillin, E: Erythromycin, C: Chloramphenicol, Te: Tetracycline, FM: Nitrofurantoin, DO: Doxycycline, AM: Ampicillin, CN: Cephalexin, GM: Gentamicin, Va:
Vancomycin, K: Kanamycin, AN: Amikacine, CTX: Cefotaxime, FEP: Cefepime, AMC: Amoxicillin, Clinda: Clindamycin, CZ: Cefazolin, SXT: Sulfamethoxazole-
Figure 2. Comparison of antimicrobial resistance frequencies for Methicillin Resistant S. aureus. P: Penicillin , E: Erythromycin, C: Chloramphenicol, Te: Tetracycline, FM: Nitrofurantoin, DO: Doxycycline, AM: Ampicillin, CN: Cephalexin, GM: Gentamicin, Va:
Vancomycin, K: Kanamycin, AN: Amikacine, CTX: Cefotaxime, FEP: Cefepime, AMC: Amoxicillin, Clinda: Clindamycin, CZ: Cefazolin, SXT: Sulfamethoxazole-
co-trimoxazole versus intravenous vancomycin in
During the past few years, news on MRSA have
101 cases of severe S.aureus infection, the authors
usually been discouraging and clinicians and
reported 100% cure rates for either drug in MRSA
infection control practitioners appear to have lost
infections, including bacteremia (15). More recently,
confidence in their capability to control the hospital
Stein et al. showed varying degrees of success in
acquired spread of this pathogen. The number of
treating with co-trimoxazole orthopedic implant
papers focusing on the over whelming spread of
infections caused by S.aureus. Unfortunately, this
MRSA is increasing, whereas those addressing
study did not distinguish MRSA from MSSA strains
successful efforts of control or stating that hospital
acquired spread of MRSA can and should be
As we can see in this study, there is a significant
controlled are few (1, 10, 11). A number of
usefulness of chloramphenicol against MRSA.
researchers debating the control of MRSA have
However, it seems that by passing time and
questioned whether controlling this microorganism is
introduction of new drugs, this antibiotic is forgotten.
reasonable, feasible or justified and whether the
Soon after chloramphenicol was released in the
tracing of colonized people are justified or not. There
United States in 1949, reports linked this highly
is a report from a university hospital and a medical-
effective agent with aplastic anemia, and it quickly
district-wide control policy for MRSA on the
fell into disfavor. The increased awareness of the
elimination of MRSA after the outbreak (12).
pathogenicity of anaerobic organisms and the
From the 90 MRSA isolates characterized in this
development of ampicillin-resistant H. influenzae
study, approximately half of them displayed
accounted for a brief resurgence. However, the
resistance to one or more antimicrobial agents,
availability of other agents has dramatically reduced
including penicillin, cephalosporins, tetracycline and
the need for this antibiotic. Since it is effective,
aminoglycosides. These data are in accord with
readily available (often over the counter), and
previous study suggesting use of these drugs has
inexpensive, it is still used as first-line therapy for
been a key factor in the emergence of antimicrobial
enteric fever and other infections in many parts of the
resistance in MRSA (8). In addition, 66% of MRSA
world. In the United States and other developed
nations, chloramphenicol remains as a useful
sulfamethoxazole (co-trimoxazole). Since this drug
antibiotic, but only as alternative therapy in seriously
combination is recommended for treating a range of
ill patients or for patients infected with highly
human infections, S.aureus isolates should be
antibiotic-resistant organisms. But unfortunately
monitored for further dissemination of co-
there is not any perfect and suitable study in this
regard, and from this matter, we can conceive that
Eventually, our data may favor the use of Co-
MRSA must be resistant to chloramphenicol as well.
Trimoxazole as a potentially cost effective
antimicrobial drug for treating MRSA infections. Co-
In this study, we report infections due to MRSA
trimoxazole has been shown to be effective against
strains with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin. In
MRSA both invitro and invivo in mice, as well as in
a study conducted in Shiraz, 100 percent of isolates
clinical reports on meningitis, septicemia and
were sensitive to vancomycin (8). In our study 7% of
isolates were resistant to vancomycin. This report is
In a controlled comparative trial of intravenous
an early warning that S.aureus strains with full
42 Antibiotic Resistant Patterns in MRSA
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Chronic Wound Care Guidelines Table of Contents FOREWORD The publication of the Wound Care Guidelines by the WoundHealing Society in the December 2006 issue of Wound Repair and Regeneration represents the culmination of a three-year effortinvolving numerous individuals and entities. As the PrincipalInvestigator and Chief Editor of this work, I think that a briefhistory of the ge
Reizigersinformatie Reizigersdiarree Plotseling opkomende diarree komt onder reizigers vaak voor. ‘Reizigersdiarree’ verloopt in het algemeen mild, gaat vanzelf over en duurt 3 tot 5 dagen. Het belangrijkste risico van diarree is uitdroging, met name bij kleine kinderen en ouderen. Tekenen van uitdroging zijn o.a.: dorst, droge mond, weinig en donkere urine, een snelle hartslag, sne