Emran Askari - Mashhad Medical Microbiology Student Research Group, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Fatemeh Soleymani - Mashhad Medical Microbiology Student Research Group, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Arash Arianpoor - Mashhad Medical Microbiology Student Research Group, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Seyed Meghdad Tabatabai - Mashhad Medical Microbiology Student Research Group, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Aminreza Amini - Department of Biostatistics, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Mahboobeh Naderi Nasab - Mashhad Medical Microbiology Student Research Group, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Objective(s)Staphylococcus aureus is a prevalent pathogen worldwide. Methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), which is usually multi-resistant in hospitals, has been a daunting challenge for clinicians for more than half a century. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine the relative frequency (RF) of MRSA in different regions of Iran.Materials and MethodsSearch terms “Staphylococcus aureus”, “Methicillin”, “mecA” and “Iran” were used in PubMed, Scirus and Google Scholar. Two Persian scientific search engines and ten recent national congresses were also explored. Articles/abstracts, which used clinical specimens and had done PCR to detect the mecA gene, were included in this review. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis and Meta-Analyst software were used for statistical analysis.ResultsOut of ۲۶۹۰ results found in the mentioned databases, ۴۸ articles were included in the final analysis. These studies were done in Ahvaz, Falavarjan, Fasa, Gorgan, Hamedan, Isfahan, Kashan, Mashhad, Sanandaj, Shahrekord, Shiraz, Tabriz, Tehran and Tonekabon. Pooled estimation of ۷۴۶۴ S. aureus samples showed that ۵۲.۷%±۴.۷ (۹۵% confidence interval [CI]) of strains were mecA positive. MRSA RF in different studies varied from ۲۰.۴۸% to ۹۰% in Isfahan and Tehran, respectively. We found a moderate heterogeneity (I۲= ۴۸.۵%) of MRSA RF among studies conducted in Tehran (ranging from ۲۸.۸۸% to ۹۰%, mean ۵۲.۷% [۹۵% CI: ۴۶.۶%±۵۸.۸%]).ConclusionAccording to the results of this study, MRSA RF in Iran is in the high range. Thus, measures should be taken to keep the emergence and transmission of these strains to a minimum.

Iran, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Systematic review