Frequency of MRSA in diabetic foot infections

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common bacterial pathogens isolated from diabetic foot infections (DFIs). The increasing prevalence of meticillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in patients with diabetes is associated with complications. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of S. aureus in DFIs and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of MRSA and non-MRSA isolates. Identification of S. aureus and MRSA was performed by the phenotypic and molecular methods. The Kirby-Bauer and agar dilution methods were performed for determination of antibiotic susceptibility patterns. Thirty-four isolates of S. aureus were isolated from March 2014 to February 2015. The rate of MRSA was 38.23 % according to the disk cefoxitin and oxacillin agar dilution methods, and as by PCR method 12) 35.29 %), isolates were found to have the mecA gene. All MRSA and non-MRSA isolates were susceptible to linezolid and vancomycin. The resistance rate to ceftriaxone was high followed by amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, tetracycline, gentamicin, and erythromycin. The most common bacterial pathogen isolated from DFIs was S. aureus. To ensure effective treatment, accurate detection of MRSA is critical. Our findings showed that MRSA isolates had high-level resistance to antimicrobial agents and that appropriate antibiotic therapy, based on the antibiotic susceptibility pattern, is essential to ensure a good result.