Vancomycin resistance among methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus isolates in khartoum-Sudan

Background: Glycopeptides such as vancomycin are frequently the antibiotics of choice for the treatment of infections caused by methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. For the last 10 years incidence of vancomycin intermediate S. aureus and vancomycin resistant S. aureus has been increasing in various parts of the world Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of vancomycin intermediate S. aureus and vancomycin resistant S. aureus and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern among hospital and community acquired Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates. Methods: This is a cross sectional study. Staphylococcus aureus strains were isolated and identified from patients suffering from skin and wound infections using conventional microbiology techniques. Methicillin resistant strains were investigated by detection of mecA gene using PCR. Strains were also tested for antimicrobial resistance using disc diffusion technique and vancomycin resistance using E test. Results: Out of 223 S. aureus strains 35.3% were found to be methicillin resistant. 37.2% out of 78 MRSA strains were community acquired; while 62.8% out of 78 MRSA strains were hospital acquired. Out of 78 MRSA strains 9% were found to be vancomycin resistant and 28.2% of strains of MRSA have shown to be vancomycin intermediate strains.