Objective: Staphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen that can cause both community and hospital-acquired infections. The presence of methicillin resistant isolates limits treatment options. The aim of this study was to determine the antibiotic resistance rates in S. aureus strains isolated from outpatients and inpatients in our hospital.

Method: Various clinical specimens were evaluated retrospectively between 2016-2019 and S. aureus strains were included in the study. Bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed using conventional methods and automated systems.

Results: In our study, 595 S. aureus strains were assessed. The strains included in the study were most frequently isolated from blood and wound samples. One hundred and seventy- two isolates (28.9%) were identified as methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The resistance rates to erythromycin, tetracycline, clindamycin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were 16.8% or below. High resistance rates were observed in MRSA against these antimicrobials compared to methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) strains. Resistance was not found against vancomycin, teicoplanin and linezolid, whereas resistance to daptomycin was 0.7%.

Conclusion: Antibiotic resistance is one of the most important health problems of today. Resistance to both methicillin and other antibiotics decreases the success rates of treatment in S. aureus infections. Therefore, it is very important to regularly monitor antibiotic resistance surveillance.