Cross-resistance between Antibiotics and Disinfectants in Staphylococcus aureus

Document Type : New and original researches in the field of Microbiology.

Authors

Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Disinfectants play an important role in the control of nosocomial infections. Appearance of MRSA resistant to disinfectants used in hospitals is alarming. Objectives: We aimed to detect cross resistance between antibiotics and disinfectants among MRSA and MSSA, and to compare the efficacy of three disinfectants; (Clorox®, ULTRASOL AF ®0.25%, Virusolve +® 0.5%) against MRSA and MSSA. Methodology: Twenty-five MSSA and 25 MRSA isolates were collected from Cairo University Hospital laboratories Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern was compared, and susceptibility to the three mentioned disinfectants was carried out. Results: With Clorox, 44% of MRSA isolates versus 68% of MSSA isolates showed no growth. With Ultrasol AF and Virosulve+ 36% of MRSA isolates showed no growth with both agents in comparison to 56% and 44% of MSSA isolates respectively. Conclusions: No relationship between antibiotic resistance and non-susceptibility to disinfectants was found. Both hypochlorite and QACs couldn’t completely eradicate MRSA and MSSA isolates tested.

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