LINEZOLID RESISTANCE IN ISOLATES OF METHICILLIN RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCI FROM BLOOD CULTURES

Abstract

Linezolid is one of the few effective ways to treat Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections. However resistance has been reported recently. Hence we conducted this study to determine the methicillin susceptibility of Staphylococci isolated from blood culture samples and to know their susceptibility to Linezolid. A total of 252 Staphylococci were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing by Kirby- Bauer disk diffusion method; MRSA was detected by using cefoxitin disk (30µg) and linezolid (30µg) was included to know susceptibility. Methicillin resistance was observed in 53 (69.74%) of the Staphylococcus aureus and 131(74.43%) of the Coagulase negative Staphylococci. Linezolid resistance was observed in 3 (5.66%) of the MRSA and 2 (1.53 %) of the Methicillin Resistant Coagulase Negative Staphylococci. Linezolid is the therapeutic choice in methicillin resistant Staphylococci as it could be administered orally and comparatively cheaper than glycopeptides. So this emergence of resistance may pose problem in the treatment.