Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the antibiotic resistance rates of S. aureus strains before the pandemic and during the pandemic period.

Methods: In the study, all S. aureus strains isolated from various clinical samples sent to our laboratory between October 2017-March 2020 and March 2020-August 2022 were retrospectively examined. Antibiotic susceptibilities of the isolates were evaluated according to EUCAST criteria.

Results: While 404 (3.04%) of the sent and culture-positive samples had growing S. aureus, this reached 444 (4.00%) during the pandemic period (p<0.001). While S. aureus-producing isolates were more common in patients over the age of 65 before the pandemic, it was observed to be more common in patients aged 36-65 during the pandemic period (p<0.001). The methicillin-resistant S. aureus rate was found to be 25.2% and 24.1% before and during the pandemic, respectively (p=0.698). Highest antibiotic resistance was observed in penicillin in both groups, while the resistance rate decreased from 92.6% to 82.9% during the pandemic. It was also determined that gentamicin resistance decreased from 7.9% to 2.1%.

Conclusion: During the pandemic period, it was observed that the susceptibility to S. aureus infection increased in middle-aged patients, the frequency of methicillin-resistant S. aureus did not change, and there was a decrease in penicillin and gentamicin resistance. It is important to identify bacterial infection agents that may occur primary or secondary to viral diseases such as COVID-19 and to conclude antibiotic sensitivity results accurately and quickly.