EMERGENCE OF VANCOMYCIN-RESISTANT COAGULASE-NEGATIVE STAPHYLOCOCCI IN AN EDUCATIONAL AND THERAPEUTIC HOSPITAL OF SARI, IRAN

Background and Aim:Coagulase-negative staphylococci are one of the most important opportunistic pathogens in hospitals due to increased use of medical devices. The development of the antibiotic resistance by these bacteria, especially vancomycin resistance, has become a critical problem in hospitals as well as failure in treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Vancomycin-resistant clinical isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococci in Bouali Sina Hospital of Sari.Methods:The clinical specimens were collected from patients during 9 months. Using routine microbiological methods, we identified the bacteria. The antibiotic resistance pattern of the isolates was detected by the disk agar diffraction method.Results:Out of 13322 clinical samples, 615 (4.6%) coagulase-negative strains were isolated from 155 (25.2%) males and 460 (74.8%) females. In this regard, 543 (88.2%) isolates were identified as Staphylococcus epidermidis, and 72 (11.8%) others were Staphylococcus saprophyticus. Among these, 463 (85.2%) and 53 (73.6%) urine cultures were positive for S. epidermidis and S. saprophyticus, respectively. Among the S. saprophyticus isolates, 53 (73.6%) and 11 (15.3%) of them were resistant to co-trimoxazole and gentamicin, while 242 (44.6%) and 22 (4.1%) S. epidermidis isolates were resistant to Co-trimoxazole and Vancomycin, respectively. Meanwhile, 15 (20.8%) S. saprophyticus clinical isolates were resistant to vancomycin.Conclusion:The increasing levels of resistance to vancomycin compared to previous studies in Iran represents an important health warning in this region of the country. Therefore, it is necessary to determine an appropriate strategy for antibiotic stewardship to treat infections caused by these organisms.

Keywords:

Staphylococci , Coagulase-negative , Vancomycin , Resistance