Vancomycin resistance among methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from Doon Valley hospitals, Uttarakhand

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causing nosocomial infection posed a serious therapeutic challenge. We report the prevalence, antibiotic susceptibility pattern and MIC value of vancomycin of MRSA isolates from Doon valley hospitals, Uttarakhand. Clinical specimens were collected from different hospitals were subjected to MRSA screening using conventional microbiological methods. Subsequently the antibiotic sensitivity test was performed for the confirmed MRSA isolates and interpreted as per standard guidelines. The isolates were then checked for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of vancomycin through broth macrodilution method. All MRSA strains were found to be multi-drug resistant including six isolates (15.7%) which showed resistance against vancomycin (VRSA) apart from resistant to other antibiotics. MIC detection of vancomycin further revealed six strains (15.8%) showed a high level of resistance (>32 μg /ml). Regular surveillance of hospital acquired infection excessive use of antimicrobial agents and monitoring of antibiotic susceptibility pattern is required to reduce the prevalence of MRSA.