A PROSPECTIVE STUDY ON PREVALENCE AND ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERN OF MRSA ISOLATED FROM ALL CLINICAL SAMPLES IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN NORTHERN KERALA.

Introduction: Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become one of the challenging factors in health care settings and community settings. Resistance to non-beta lactam antibiotics also made the situation worsen. Aim: Ÿ To study the prevalence of MRSA in all clinical samples taken for culture. Ÿ To evaluate the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of MRSA. Results: A total of 67 MRSA were isolated from 2609 clinical samples. Maximum isolates were from pus 44 (70%). The highest (100%) sensitivity was observed with Vancomycin, linezolid and teicoplanin and lowest (28.4%) with Erthromycin was observed. Conclusion: Educating primary health physicians about MRSA is essential to implement effective control measures like Strict adherence to infection control practices, including hand hygiene, preventing the overuse of antibiotics and continues surveillance program for MRSA