Resistance patterns of local strains of staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics has become an increasingly distressing problem over the last few decades (Bosso, 1989). Staphylococcus aureus is renowned as an organism able to counteract almost any antibiotic challenge and its history has been one of increasing antibiotic resistance. Relatively recent problems with Staph. aureus have been caused by methicillin-resistant Staph. aureus (MRSA) owing to the particular contagiousness of such strains, which are gaining an increasing prevalence in hospitals around the world (Boyce, 1990; Brumfitt & Hamilton-Miller, 1989). The aims of my study were: Study 1 - To determine the prevalence of Staph. aureus in Malta. Study 2 - To study the levels of resistance of this organism to various antimicrobial agents, with special importance being given to methicillin resistance, and to determine the level of B-Iactamase production, as one of the main mechanisms of resistance of Staph. aureus. Study 3: To investigate the epidemiology of local MRSA infections and formulate a safety policy for dealing with such infections.