Prevalence of Mec A Gene positive coagulase negative Staphylococci in NICU of a tertiary care hospital

For last 20 years Coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) have been identified as major causes of late-onset neonatal bacteraemia in new born intensive care units. In our study an attempt was made to evaluate prevalence of oxacillin resistance CoNS in NICU. The study group comprised of 1087 cases admitted in the NICU of the Gandhi Memorial and associated hospitals, Lucknow during the period of September 2005 to December 2007. Cases included in study were neonates (of age less than or equal to 28 days) suspected to be suffering from the septicemia on the clinical grounds. Samples taken were blood, pus, nasal aspirate, urine and catheter tip. Biotyping was done for all the CoNS isolates. In biotyping S. epidermidis (40%) was the most common species followed by S. saprophyticus (20%) and S. haemolyticus (12%). 54% CoNS were found to be methicillin resistance by DD(oxacillin) and 52% isolates were positive for mecA gene. CoNS causing neonatal septicemia are resistant to the routine antibiotics used to treat newborn infants and vancomycin is often required for adequate therapy.