STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS;

Prevalence in burns patients.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of Staph. aureus in burn patients. Setting: Department of Microbiology, Basic
Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi. Period: July 2002 to December 2002. Material and Methods:
Out of 52 patients 23 (44%) were found infected by 41 strains of S. aureus in which 10 strains were Methicillin resistant. Results: All
Methicillin sensitive and resistant strains were sensitive to Vancomycin and Chloramphenicol. Other effective drugs against MSSA were
Imipenem (93.5%), Cephalothin (77.5%), Clindamycin (68%) while MRSA strains were highly resistant to all other drugs. Conclusions:
Gram positive heavily colonize the wound at initial days following burn injury. Once Staph aureus specially MRSA establishing in burn unit,
it is very difficult to eradicate these bacteria from burn unit. It is therefore all efforts must made to prevent burn patients from infection
specially Staph. Aureus infection, by establising infection control team these burn units.