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A Study On Surgical Site Infections Caused
By Staphylococcus Aureus, With A Special
Search For Methicillin-Resistant Isolates
502-508
Correspondence
Srinivas R Deshpande
Professor and HOD Biochemistry,
Malabar Medical College, Modakallur, Atholi,
Calicut Dist, Kerala- 670001
E mail:sriradesh1971@yahoo.com.
Ph:+91-9480158750
Objective: To study the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in surgical site infections (SSIs) in referral hospitals at the coastal city of Mangalore, India.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 300 patients who underwent surgery in the obstetrics and gynaecology, orthopaedic and surgical departments which were attached to the referral hospitals which were attached to Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore. Pus samples were collected with two sterile swabs and processed in the Microbiology department.
Results: Of the 300 pus samples, 216(72%) showed growth. 258 aerobic bacteria were isolated. The most commonorganism which was isolated was Staphylococcus aureus, with 83(32.2%) isolates. Of these, 8 (9.6%) were Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Conclusions: Indian clinicians and infectious disease specialists in the coastal areas are facing formidable challenges from Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Despite the best surgical practices, nearly a tenth of all the SSIs cases could be caused by MRSA. Routine screening for these multidrug resistant organisms in the hospital staff, especially in the surgical departments and pre-surgical screening of the patients could help in reducing the incidence of MRSA.