Distribution and Antibiotic Resistance Profiles of MRSA Clinical Strains Across Different Age Groups and Genders: Implications for Targeted Infection Control and Antibiotic Stewardship Programs

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a significant public health challenge due to its resistance to multiple antibiotics.This study aims to investigate the distribution of MRSA resistant phenotypes across different age groups and genders, and to analyze the antibiotic resistance profiles of MRSA clinical strains.A retrospective analysis was performed on MRSA clinical strains collected from King Fahad Medical City (KFMC).The study compared demographic characteristics, including gender and age, with the prevalence of MRSA resistant phenotypes, specifically multidrug resistant (MDR) and resistant (R) strains.Additionally, antibiotic sensitivity and resistance profiles were examined for various antibiotics.A total of 361 clinical strains were isolated from different clinical sites, including sputum, wounds, throat, and miscellaneous sites.The findings revealed a predominance of MRSA resistant phenotypes among males, constituting 55.91% of MDR cases and 55.22% of all resistant strains.Regarding swab site distribution, 46.23% of MDR strains were isolated from sputum, 30.10% from miscellaneous sites (peripheral lines, abdominal wall, body fluid, tissue, etc.), and the least from throat swabs.MDR strains were most prevalent in the age groups 40-49 (21.15%), 50-59 (13.46%), and 80-89 (13.46%), with a significant difference observed in the 40-49 age group (p-value 0.0064).MRSA strains showed high susceptibility to Vancomycin, Linezolid, Rifampicin, and Teicoplanin (100%), moderate sensitivity to Erythromycin (64.81%), and inherent resistance to Oxacillin (100%).Nitrofurantoin exhibited very low sensitivity (2.77%), indicating poor efficacy against MRSA.In conclusion, the present findings highlight the need for targeted control measures against MRSA infection resistance and the implementation of antibiotic stewardship programs to preserve the efficacy of vital antibiotics and curb the spread of MRSA resistance.These insights support the development of effective strategies to combat antibiotic-resistant MRSA infections.