INCIDENCE OF METHICILLIN RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS IN PESHAWAR
Abstract
Background: There is considerable variation in the percentage of isolates of methicillin resistantStaphylococcus aureus (MRSA). There are several mechanisms for methicillin resistance. The most
important is low affinity of penicillin binding proteins for β-lactam antibiotics. The objectives of this
study were to establish the pattern of MRSA incidence in Peshawar in recent years, and to identify high
risk groups for acquiring infection amongst the city population. Method: All positive MRSA cases
reported at city laboratory were employed in the study. These were recorded over the time period
elapsing from 2009 to 2011. For each patient, records were looked at for age, sex, specimen tested
positive, hospital/community acquired and if hospital acquired then which particular hospital within the
city was infection contracted at. Also patient records were addressed for any immune system
abnormalities, any operation conducted, presence or absence of diabetes and any history of intravenous
drug use. Results: There were a total of 929 MRSA cases in our study, of which 538 were males and
391 were females. MRSA frequency for the year 2009 was 207, for 2010 it was 284 and for 2011 it was
438. The frequency of MRSA increased by 54% from the year 2009 to 2011. Conclusion: A
potentially alarming increase in MRSA incidence within the city has been observed in recent years
threatening to rise further judging the current trend. Those at a high risk of contracting infection include
males aged between 20-29 years, hospitalised, diabetics, immune system compromised, and
individuals with a history of IV drug use.
Keywords: MRSA, Incidence, Prevention
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