PREVALENCE OF ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANCE AMONG CLINICAL ISOLATES OF METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCI

The prevalence of methicillin-resistant and multiply antibiotic-resist ant staphylococci causing infections in hospitalized patients was stud ied over a two-year period. Among 122 clinically significant staphyloc occi, the prevalence of methicillin resistance was 66 %, with a higher prevalence of Staphylococcus haemolyticus (85 %) and Staphylococcus e pidermidis (83 %) observed than of Staphylococcus aureus (49 %). Multi ple antibiotic resistance was observed more frequently among coagulase -negative staphylococci (52 to 70 %) than among Staphylococcus aureus (17 %). All strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus wer e susceptible to glycopeptide antibiotics and to trimethoprim-sulfamet hoxazole, whereas approximately 50 % of coagulase-negative staphylococ ci exhibited either moderate susceptibility or resistance to teicoplan in. For these latter strains, vancomycin remains the agent of choice, whereas teicoplanin cannot be recommended unless its efficacy is estab lished by MIC determination.