Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): A major concern in the Northern Cameroon

Staphylococcus aureus remains the most virulent pathogenic staphylococcal species known to human beings. Oxacillin is still the best antibiotic used for treating infections with S. aureus. However, cases of resistance are increasingly recorded and cause a serious public health concern. The objective of this study was to evaluate the resistance of S. aureus to oxacillin. The study was carried out in the North region of Cameroon on strains isolated at Centre Pasteur in Cameroon. Three hundred (300) strains of Staphylococcus were recorded, among them 200 (66.67%) were identified as Staphylococcus aureus, mainly coming from six (06) different types of samples. The susceptibility test to oxacillin was carried out using two methods: the diffusion method using discs (oxacillin, cefoxitin) and the determination of Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC) by E-test. Overall 84 (42%) resistant strains were detected by both methods.  Cervico-vaginal specimen harbored the highest number of S. aureus strains (41%), compared to other specimen types. However, pus recorded the highest number of resistant cases (79%), followed by semen culture (50%). Among all resistant strains recorded, 84.5% were tested positive for beta-lactamase production.