SURVEY ON THE ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE LEVEL OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS BACTERIA AT DONG NAI GENERAL HOSPITAL.

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogenic agent in humans that can cause a variety of conditions, ranging from relatively mild skin infections to severe life-threatening infections. Currently, S. aureus is recognized for its ability to resist most types of antibiotics, including highly potent ones. Particularly, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a significant challenge in treatment. A study was conducted to assess the antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcus aureus at Dong Nai General Hospital during the 2022-2023 period. Using a cross-sectional design with descriptive and analytical components, the study involved the analysis of 277 clinical specimens infected with S. aureus. Bacterial cultures and antibiotic susceptibility testing were performed. The research revealed an MRSA prevalence of 85.6% (237 cases). Clindamycin resistance was observed in 3.3% of cases, with 2.5% exhibiting resistance to both clindamycin and MRSA, as confirmed by genotypic testing (D-test). No cases of vancomycin resistance were found, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of vancomycin ranged from 1.0 to 2.0 µg/mL in 76.2% of cases. High rates of resistance were noted for other antibiotics: clindamycin (82.3%), erythromycin (84.4%), benzylpenicillin (100%), tetracycline (61.0%), levofloxacin (31.4%), moxifloxacin (30.0%), ciprofloxacin (31.0%), trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole (30.0%). The study data clearly indicate a high and increasing resistance to methicillin and other antibiotics over the years. Notably, MRSA can cause both community-acquired and hospital-acquired infections. Multiple strains of S. aureus with various drug-resistant genes were identified simultaneously. Although the MIC values for vancomycin in the study remained within the sensitive range (< 2 µg/mL), there is a considerable risk of treatment failure against MRSA due to the prevalence of MIC values ranging from 1.0 to 2.0 µg/mL, accounting for 76.2% of cases.