Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) an important microorganism: determination of its prevalence and evaluation of its associated factors in hospitalized dermatologic patients

Background: Methicillin–resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)has recently emerged as a worldwide major nosocomial pathogenthat causes significant morbidity and mortality. MRSA is frequentlycolonized on the skin. The aim of this study was to determinethe MRSA colonization/infection prevalence and to evaluatethe potential risk factors for its development in the hospitalizedpatients in a referral dermatology ward.Method: In this cross sectional study, 203 patients with cutaneouslesions who were admitted to the dermatology ward of a tertiaryteaching hospital from 2008 to 2010 were recruited. Sampleswere collected during the first 48 hours of admission. S. aureuswas identified using gram staining, catalase, and coagulase tests.The disk diffusion method was used for testing the sensitivityof different bacteria to antibiotics. Mueller-Hinton agar was theculture medium used for MRSA susceptibility testing.Result: Staphylococcus. aureus was the most common pathogenthat grew in 56.2% (114/203) of isolates. MRSA was foundin 35.5% (82/203) of isolates. The duration of the cutaneouslesions, age group, positive history of antibiotic use in past 12months, and underlying diseases were statistically differentbetween the patients with colonization of MRSA and methicillinsensitiveStaphylococcus aureus (MSSA) (P