Epidemiology and antibiotic susceptibility of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in nosocomial and community acquired infections in southeastern Algeria

Bacterial nosocomial and community acquired infections due to the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens cause high morbidity and mortality worldwide in humans. Staphylococci are number one among the Gram-positive bacteria responsible for multiple infections in hospitals. In this survey, we determined the epidemiological aspects of Multi-drug-resistant – Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MDR-MRSA) strains as well as antimicrobial susceptibility profile to different families of antibiotics. 80 MDR-MRSA strains were isolated from different pathological origins, during the period from August 2019 – August 2020. The isolation and the identification of S.aureus strains were based on conventional methods. Methicillin resistance was verified for each strains by using a disc of oxacillin (5μg) or cefoxitin (30μg) .The antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by disc diffusion method on Mueller Hinton agar and evaluation of minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs), according to Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). The study has shown that 80 MRSA strains were identified among the 125 S. aureus strains isolated (64 %). The majority of staphylococci come from pus (67,5%) followed by the blood culture (27,5%). 31,25% come mostly from intensive care unit with a percentage of 72% in adults, including 62,5% of cases recorded in females. The MRSA strains show multidrug resistance to different antibiotic families. We identified seven MRSA strains expressing reduced glycopeptides susceptibility. MRSA is important and serious pathogens in human infections, continued monitoring of susceptibility profiles of these pathogens to important antibiotics is required for a better therapeutic approach against nosocomial and community acquired infections caused by MDR-MRSA.