Clinical and Demographic Correlates of MRSA and mecA-Positive Isolates in a Tertiary Hospital, Tehran: A Cross-Sectional Study

Haniyeh  Bashi Zadeh Fakhar; Parnian Sadat  Shahidi; Melika  Jalalian; Shaghayegh  Rangraz

doi:10.18502/jmb.v14i1.21095

Haniyeh Bashi Zadeh Fakhar Department of Genetics, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran.
Parnian Sadat Shahidi Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
Melika Jalalian Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, TeMS.C, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Shaghayegh Rangraz Department of Medical Science, Islamic Azad University, Chalus Branch, Chalous, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jmb.v14i1.21095

Keywords: Clinical, Demographic Correlates, mecA-Positive, MRSA Isolates.

Abstract

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major cause of healthcare- associated infections, with the mecA gene serving as a key marker of resistance. This study investigates the clinical and demographic factors associated with MRSA and mecA carriage in a tertiary hospital in Tehran to inform targeted infection control strategies..

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 125 hospitalized patients with Staphylococcus aureus infections from a tertiary hospital in Tehran. Clinical and demographic data were collected via structured questionnaires and medical records, and MRSA/mecA status was determined using phenotypic methods and real-time PCR, with associations analyzed using chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests in SPSS v18..

Results: MRSA was identified in 40.8% of Staphylococcus aureus isolates, with no significant association found with age or sex. Prolonged hospitalization, immunocompromised status, and frequent antibiotic use were significantly associated with MRSA infection (p < 0.05), while a lower prevalence was observed among patients with infected wounds.

Conclusion: This study highlights a high prevalence of MRSA in a Tehran tertiary hospital, with prolonged hospitalization, immunocompromised status, and antibiotic overuse identified as key risk factors. Targeted infection control strategies integrating clinical risk assessment and microbiological surveillance are recommended to mitigate MRSA transmission.