Objective:

To describe the resistance percentage to mupirocin and other antibiotics in Staphylococcus aureus isolates colonizing hemodialysis patients.

Methods:

A descriptive study was conducted at an outpatient dialysis center in Medellín and hemodialysis patients with catheter were included. Colonization by S. aureus was evaluated in nostrils and skin. Bacterial identification was performed by PCR and antibiotic susceptibility was determined by the Vitek-2 automated system and by E-test. Clinical information was obtained from medical records.

Results:

Two hundred and ten patients were included, of which 50.5% (n=106) were women, with a median for the age of 62 years (IQR 51,87-71,13). Among the clinical characteristics, the frequent use of antibiotics 59% (n=124) and the history of hospitalization 69% (n=145) were highlighted. The percentage of colonization by S. aureus was 33.8% (n=71) and the most frequent site of colonization was nostrils (19%; n=40). All isolates were susceptible to mupirocin by the method of Vitek-2. However, one isolate showed low level resistance to mupirocin by E-test. Colonization by methicillinresistant isolates (MRSA) was 4.8% (n=10); which presented mainly resistance only to oxacillin (58,3%; n = 7).

Conclusion:

The high susceptibility to mupirocin in isolates of colonizing S. aureus suggests its use as prophylactic therapy in hemodialysis patients with high risk of infection. It is important to strengthen programs for the rational use of antibiotics to prevent the spread of mechanisms of resistance to this and other antibiotics at dialysis units.

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