MRSA as an indicator of infection control measures in Turaif General Hospital, Northern Area-Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Introduction: Saudi Arabia can be considered a hot spot for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections with significant regional variations. As far as we know, this is the first study to evaluate the prevalence of MRSA in clinical samples obtained from Turaif general hospital (TGH), Northern Area-Saudi Arabia, and screening the resistance profile to the most regularly used antimicrobials as an indicator for evaluation of the implemented infection control measures.
 Methodology: Totally, 410 Samples were collected from patients in TGH with clinically suspected nosocomial infections. MRSA isolates were identified by the classical bacteriological, biochemical, and cefoxitin-based methods as recommended by the Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute. Confirmation of isolates and testing of their antimicrobial susceptibilities were performed by the automated Vitek 2 compact system.
 Results: Totally, 130 nosocomial isolates were detected. Staphylococcus aureus (29.23%) was the most frequently isolated Gram-positive pathogen. MRSA represented 39.47% of Staphylococcus aureus and 11.54% of all isolates. MRSA-causing surgical site infections were the most predominant type of MRSA nosocomial infections representing (25.00%). Recent antibiotic therapy, prolonged hospital stays, and indwelling devices were significant risk factors for the development of MRSA infections. Although all MRSA isolates were sensitive to vancomycin, teicoplanin, linezolid, Fosfomycin, and tigecycline, many isolates were resistant to other tested antimicrobials.
 Conclusions: Hospital administrators should strengthen the ideal use of antibiotics according to the local hospital policy to control the selective drug pressure on Staphylococcus aureus strains with minimizing exposure to the risk factors by implementing the proper infection control policies.

Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at a maternity and children hospital in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

“…Additionally, a retrospective study by Farah et al at a major medical city in Riyadh revealed a 17.5 % MRSA prevalence from 2010 to 2015 ( Farah et al, 2019 ). Furthermore, Taha et al found a 39 % MRSA prevalence in a 6-month cross-sectional study in the Northern region ( Taha et al, 2022 ). Locally, Alaklobi and colleagues found that the prevalence of MRSA was 23.3 % among outpatient children in Riyadh Saudi Arabia ( Alaklobi et al, 2015 ).…”

An Overview of Antimicrobial Resistance in Saudi Arabia (2013–2023) and the Need for National Surveillance

“…When the literature was searched for surveillance studies involving MRSA in Saudi Arabia, 17 studies were found [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ]. The number of reported isolates ranged from 4 to 4853 MRSA isolates [ 25 , 26 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ].…”

“…When the literature was searched for surveillance studies involving MRSA in Saudi Arabia, 17 studies were found [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ]. The number of reported isolates ranged from 4 to 4853 MRSA isolates [ 25 , 26 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ]. The average prevalence of MRSA among all S. aureus isolates in the studies that reported it was 32.5% [ 26 , 28 , 31 , 32 , 36 , 38 , 41 ], while the prevalence of S. aureus among total Gram-positive bacteria was about 24.8% [ 29 , 31 ].…”

“…The number of reported isolates ranged from 4 to 4853 MRSA isolates [ 25 , 26 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ]. The average prevalence of MRSA among all S. aureus isolates in the studies that reported it was 32.5% [ 26 , 28 , 31 , 32 , 36 , 38 , 41 ], while the prevalence of S. aureus among total Gram-positive bacteria was about 24.8% [ 29 , 31 ]. Alam et al conducted a surveillance study in western Saudi Arabia and revealed that MRSA accounted for over 40% of S. aureus isolates [ 28 ].…”

“…Automated AST systems were used in most of the studies. VITEK was the most commonly utilized system, which was solely used in five studies [ 28 , 30 , 33 , 37 , 38 ]. MicroScan was also utilized in two studies [ 27 , 29 ], while three other studies reported using multiple automated AST methods within their facility [ 25 , 39 , 41 ].…”