Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Staphylococcus aureus among patients at university of Gondar hospital northwest Ethiopia: a retrospective study of 25870 cases

Emergence of antimicrobial resistance is a major public health problem worldwide, particularly in developing countries. The global spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) constitutes one of the most serious contemporary challenges to the treatment of hospital-acquired infections. The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial resistance pattern of Staphylococcus aureus isolate from different clinical specimens at University of Gondar comprehensive specialized hospital. A retrospective study used laboratory records of 25870 clinical specimens submitted for bacterial culture microbiology laboratory of University of Gondar comprehensive specialized hospital for bacterial culture and sensitivity testing from July 2018 and April 2022. Records from specimens positive for Staphylococcus aureus isolates were included for analysis. Standard bacteriological techniques were followed during culture preparation, sample collection, bacterial identification, and antibiotic susceptibility testing. Data was entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Of the total 25,870 samples culture records, 4653 (18%) were culture positive for bacteria. A total of 1057 S. aureus isolates were collected from clinical specimens such as: wound discharge (342; 32.4%), blood (312; 29.5%), cerebrospinal fluid (16; 1.5%), urine (21; 2%), other body fluids (71; 6.7%) and other discharge (295; 28 %). The prevalence of methicillin resistant S. aureus was 33.8% (233/698) and the overall prevalence of multi-drug resistant S. aureus out of 1057 S. aureus isolates was 36% (380/1057). We recommend further research on molecular studies evaluating the resistance genes and monitoring the epidemiology of multiple drug resistant S. aureus and MRSA.