Drug resistance spectrum of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated in school environments in Guangzhou city

  Objective  To analyze drug resistant spectrum of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated in primary school environment in Guangzhou city.

  Methods  Antimicrobial susceptibility test was conducted using disk diffusion method for Staphylococcus aureus strains identified and isolated from 1 040 environmental samples collected in classrooms, toilets, corridors or staircases in 6 primary schools in Guangzhou city from April to June 2016.

  Results  A total of 98 isolates were identified as Staphylococcus aureus. For the Staphylococcus aureus isolates, the multi-drug resistant rate was 88.78 % (87/98) and the penicillin-resistance rate (97.96 %, 96/98) was the highest, followed by erythromycin-resistance (89.80 %, 88/98) and teicoplanin-resistance (88.78%, 87/98). Thirty six strains (36.73 %) were identified as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and the strains showed higher multi-drug resistant rate and resistance rate to 6 antibiotics (cefoxitin, linezolid, erythromycin, moxifloxacin, rifampicin, tetracycline, and clindamycin) than the methicillin-susceptive Staphylococcus aureus strains (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  Environmental Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated in primary school environment showed high multi-drug resistant rate and severe resistance to several antibiotics. Moreover, the drug-resistance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains is much more critical than that of methicillin-susceptive Staphylococcus aureus.