• Aamir Habib and Abdul Qadir.
• Department of Dermatology, Combined Military Hospital, Bahawalpur Cantt, Pakistan.
• J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2022 Nov 1; 32 (11): 1398-1403.

ObjectiveTo determine the frequency and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of CA-MRSA in patients with uncomplicated skin and soft tissue infections reporting to the dermatology outpatient of a tertiary health care hospital.Study DesignA descriptive study.Place And Duration Of StudyDermatology outpatient of a tertiary care hospital in Punjab province of Pakistan, from September 2020 to August 2021.MethodologyPatients of all age groups and both genders reporting during the study period with community-associated uncomplicated bacterial skin and soft tissue infections were enrolled in the study. Samples were collected from skin lesions and cultured on blood agar and MacConkey agar plates. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing using the modified Kirby Baur disc diffusion technique was performed.ResultsA total of 157 patients were included in the study. Impetigo was most common infection (n=80, 51%), followed by Furunculosis (n=47, 29.9%). The frequency of MRSA isolates was 54.1% (n=85). MRSA was significantly more frequently isolated from patients with furunculous, carbuncle and cutaneous abscesses as compared to impetigo. All MRSA isolates were sensitive to linezolid, teicoplanin, and vancomycin. 97.6%, 84.7%, and 72.9% of MRSA isolates were sensitive to rifampicin, minocycline, and fusidic acid respectively. 89.4% of MRSA were sensitive to amikacin and clindamycin. 63.5% were sensitive to doxycycline and 58.8% were sensitive to co-trimoxazole. Only 20% of MRSA were sensitive to ciprofloxacin.ConclusionThe antibiotics active against CA-MRSA including rifampicin, minocycline, amikacin, and clindamycin may be used empirically in patients with furunculosis, cutaneous abscess, and carbuncles. Linezolid, teicoplanin, and vancomycin should be reserved for severe infections.Key WordsUncomplicated skin and soft tissue infections, Community-associated Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA), Antibiotic susceptibility pattern.

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