Abstract
The emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) represents a significant public health concern among long-term hospitalized patients, particularly those with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients. This is primarily due to MRSA's ability to resist antimicrobial agents and drugs. The objective of this study is to ascertain the antibiotic resistance pattern of MRSA in cancer patients admitted to hospitals in the southwest region of Iran. The samples obtained from the patients were cultivated on blood agar and EMB medium. Subsequently, the positive samples containing S. aureus were identified through the application of a phenotypic method. Subsequently, the cefoxitin antibiogram was employed for the isolation of MRSA. Furthermore, the isolates were subjected to testing for simultaneous drug resistance against 12 different antibiotics. To detect the presence of the mec gene, a molecular method was employed, namely the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique, and electrophoresis of the obtained products was conducted. Of the 41 S. aureus samples identified, 33 were found to be methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Of the 33 MRSA isolates, the presence of the mec gene was confirmed, and they exhibited simultaneous drug resistance. Individuals with cancer, who frequently have indwelling catheters and receive a variety of drugs and blood products, are at an elevated risk of contamination with this bacterium due to its presence on their skin and the hands of healthcare providers. The indiscriminate use of drugs and the subsequent rise in drug resistance can contribute to prolonged hospitalization and even death among these individuals. Given that Ahvaz hospitals, particularly Bagai Hospital, serve as primary treatment centers for patients with incurable and cancerous conditions in southwestern Iran, it is of significant value and importance to investigate the resistance patterns observed in patients undergoing chemotherapy and post-transplantation.