High and Low Level Mupirocin Resistance among Clinical Isolates of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Abstract

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a significant source of nosocomial infections, causing illnesses ranging from minor to life-threatening septic shock. Routine culturing and specific testing can confirm the presence of the bacteria. Antibiotic resistance is a major concern, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is particularly dangerous as it has mutations in the mecA gene, making it resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics. Mupirocin is an effective antibiotic against MRSA, binding to isoleucyl transfer-RNA synthetase to inhibit protein and RNA synthesis.

Objective: In this study, two different concentrations of mupirocin were tested against MRSA.

Material & Method: This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) against two different doses of mupirocin. Clinical samples were collected in the duration of one year from different wards of Jinnah Hospital Lahore and processed in microbiology laboratory of Allama Iqbal medical college and after confirmation of Staphylococcus aureus, the modified Kirby Bauer method was used to test antimicrobial susceptibility. MRSA was confirmed by resistance to cefoxitin. High and low-level doses of mupirocin were applied, and zone sizes were measured.

Results: Total 172 isolated methicillin resistant Staphylocuccus aureus (MRSA) from all age and genders were tested against two doses of mupirocin. Both (mupriocin 5 µg and 200µg) were highly effective and MRSA were around 97% sensitive to mupirocin.

Conclusion: After the resistance of all beta lactam drugs, mupirocin can be very helpful in the treatment of MRSA infections.

Key Words:MRSA, Mupriocin