1996 Volume 59 Issue 3 Pages 265-270
We investigated the prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) in operating rooms at Osaka Dental University Hospital in 1995 and compared the results with those obtained in 1993 and 1994. In 1995 we examined 112 operating room locations, and tested the antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates. MRS were isolated from 18 locations (16%). We found that the spread of MRS in operating rooms decreased annually for the three years. Most of the MRS strains were isolated from semiclean zones and locations not in contact with the medical staff in operating rooms. Seven of the MRS strains tested had mannitol fermentation, while none had coagulase production. All MRS strains were susceptible to vancomycin and chloramphenicol, and were classified according to their antibiotic sensitivity. Half of the strains isolated were presumptively identified as Staphylococcus epidermidis.
These results showed a decrease in MRS annually for the three years, although methicillin-resistant, coagulase-negative staphylococci still were prevalent in some locations in the semiclean zones of operating rooms. Shika lgaku (J Osaka Odontol Soc) 1996 Sept; 59(3):265-270.
