Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance Patterns of Staphylococcus Aureus in Dermatological Infections: A 5-Year Retrospective Study

Background: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a leading cause of dermatological infections, with rising methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) cases posing significant therapeutic challenges. The increasing antibiotic resistance necessitates continuous surveillance to inform treatment strategies. However, limited longitudinal data exist on resistance trends in dermatological infections, especially in tertiary care settings. Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and antibiotic resistance patterns of S. aureus in dermatological infections over a five-year period, identifying risk factors associated with MRSA infections. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted from January 2020 to December 2024 in multiple tertiary care hospitals. A total of 850 clinical samples were analyzed. Inclusion criteria included patients diagnosed with dermatological infections, while those with systemic infections were excluded. S. aureus isolates were identified using microbiological and molecular techniques, with antimicrobial susceptibility testing performed per CLSI guidelines. Ethical approval was obtained (IRB No: 2024-0123). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v28.0, applying chi-square, t-tests, and logistic regression. Results: MRSA prevalence was 38.9% (331/850), with the highest resistance observed against penicillin (95.3%) and erythromycin (56.7%). Vancomycin and linezolid showed the lowest resistance (5.8% and 4.1%, respectively). Older age (OR: 2.17, p<0.001), prior antibiotic use (OR: 3.84, p<0.001), and hospital-acquired infections (OR: 4.12, p<0.001) were significantly associated with MRSA infections. Conclusion: The increasing MRSA prevalence highlights the urgent need for targeted antimicrobial stewardship and infection control measures. Strengthened surveillance programs and judicious antibiotic use are crucial to mitigating resistance trends. Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, antibiotic resistance, dermatological infections, antimicrobial susceptibility, tertiary care hospitals.