Isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus at Chiba Children's Hospital: Observation in the first 2 years

Abstract

Clinical and bacteriological studies were performed to investigate the isolation of MRSA from clinical materials. The study was carried out from 1988 through 1990, at Chiba Children's Hospital, which was opened for tertiary pediatric care in 1988. Eighty-six MRSA strains were isolated from pus, sputum, urine, otorrhea and blood. The coagulase types of 86 strains were divided into 5 groups, that is, type 1 (1 stain), type 2 (68 strains), type 3 (8 strains), type 4 (3 strains) and type 2·3 (6 strains). ninety percent of 86 strains produced beta-lactamase. Evaluation of susceptibility MRSA to 14 antimicrobial agents showed that most MRSA strains were resistant to all agents, but some of the strains were sensitive to minocycline (MINO), ofloxacin (OFLX), imipenem IPM) and netilmicin (NTL). The isolation of MRSA was higher in frequency in the ICU, NICU and surgical ward. The ratio of MRSA to Staphylococcus aureus increased from 39% in 1988 to 65% 1990, and its total rate was 54%. Since MRSA infection is an important problem in pediatrics, measures for the total control of nasocomial infection are necessary.