Prevalence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) among admitted patients at Baqubah Teaching Hospital in Diyala

Mawj Mohammed Abbood; Hanan Raheem Hassooni; Enas Ammar Mohammed; Wissam F. Hassan

doi:10.58709/niujhs.v12i2.2647

Mawj Mohammed Abbood Baqubah Teaching Hospital, Diyala, Iraq
Hanan Raheem Hassooni Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Diyala, Diyala, Iraq
Enas Ammar Mohammed Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Diyala, Diyala, Iraq
Wissam F. Hassan Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Diyala, Diyala, Iraq

DOI: https://doi.org/10.58709/niujhs.v12i2.2647

Abstract

Background: Antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus has emerged as a critical global public health threat, driven primarily by the rising prevalence of methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA) and their diminishing susceptibility to conventional antimicrobials.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) and to evaluate their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns across various clinical isolates.

Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Baqubah Teaching Hospital in Diyala, Iraq, from March 2025 to April 2026. A total of 385 samples collected from various clinical specimens, including urine, wound, vaginal, and ear swabs. Include 110 S. aureus isolates were consecutively Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using standard methods. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24, and Chi-square tests were applied to assess the associations between resistance patterns and specimen sources. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Result: The isolated S. aureus strains exhibited substantial resistance to several commonly used antibiotics. The most prominent resistance rates were observed against benzylpenicillin (95.45%) and oxacillin (80.91%), indicating a high phenotypic prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Moderate resistance profiles were recorded for moxifloxacin (65.45%), erythromycin (66.36%), gentamicin (51.82%), levofloxacin (51.82%), tobramycin (50.91%), and rifampicin (50.00%). Conversely, the isolates retained relatively higher susceptibility to teicoplanin (73.64%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (62.73%), vancomycin (56.36%), and tetracycline (56.36%). Notably, the distribution of antimicrobial resistance varied significantly based on the specimen source; isolates recovered from urine samples demonstrated the highest resistance rates, followed by wound and vaginal swabs, whereas ear swabs exhibited the lowest. Statistical analysis confirmed significant variations in susceptibility patterns (P ≤ 0.01), underscoring a non-random distribution of resistance among the tested pathogens.

Conclusion: In conclusion, this study demonstrates a high prevalence of multidrug-resistant S. aureus, including a substantial proportion of methicillin-resistant (MRSA) strains, at Baqubah Teaching Hospital. The significant variations in susceptibility patterns across different antibiotics and anatomical infection sites emphasize the necessity of tailored empirical therapy. These alarming resistance rates warrant the immediate implementation of strict antimicrobial stewardship programs and regular local surveillance to curb the dissemination of these refractory pathogens.

Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA), Antibiotic resistance, Antimicrobial susceptibility.