{ "abstract": "Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses challenges in healthcare settings, contributing to antimicrobial resistance and complicating treatment of staphylococcal infections. In resource-limited settings such as Zambia, staphylococcal infections are treated empirically with clindamycin or co-trimoxazole due to limited susceptibility testing. However, MRSA and multidrug resistance are reducing treatment effectiveness. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of MRSA at Mansa General Hospital, Zambia. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 266 clinical S. aureus isolates from 2020-2024. Bacterial identification was performed using microbiological methods (Mannitol Salt Agar, catalase, coagulase, DNase tests). MRSA detection and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion- method with cefoxitin (30 µg) as a surrogate marker, interpreted according to CLSI M100 34th Edition guidelines. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with MRSA. Among 266 S. aureus isolates, the overall MRSA prevalence was 31.6% (84/266). MRSA demonstrated significantly lower susceptibility than MSSA to non-beta-lactam antibiotics: clindamycin (46.2% vs. 67.7%), erythromycin (50.0% vs. 79.5%), ciprofloxacin (58.2% vs. 91.4%), and tetracycline (58.3% vs. 81.9%). Chloramphenicol (86.5% vs. 100%) and linezolid (81.8% vs. 97.9%) retained activity. MDR prevalence was 28.6% (76/266), with higher MDR (57.1%, 48/84) than MSSA (15.4%, 28/182). Older age was independently associated with MRSA: adults aged 45–59 years (AOR 2.77; 95% CI 1.09-7.01; p = 0.032) and ≥60 years (AOR 4.53; 95% CI 1.45-14.1; p = 0.009) had higher odds compared to children. Sex, patient type and specimen source were not significant predictors. This study highlights the high prevalence of MRSA at Mansa General Hospital, reduced susceptibility to used oral antibiotics and a burden of multidrug resistance. Empirical use of clindamycin and erythromycin for suspected staphylococcal skin and soft tissue infections should be reconsidered and guided by local antimicrobial susceptibility whenever available. Continued local surveillance and multicenter studies are needed to inform empirical treatment guidelines across Zambia.", "abstract_shown": true, "affiliations": [ "Institute of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, Levy Mwanawasa Medical University, Lusaka, Zambia", "Laboratory Department, Afromed Academy of Medical Research and Innovation, Lusaka, Zambia", "Microbiology Department, Mansa General Hospital, Mansa, Luapula Province, Zambia", "School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Lusaka, Lusaka Province, Zambia", "Pathology Laboratory Department, Arthur Davison Children’s Hospital, Ndola, Zambia", "HAND Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Mulungushi University, Livingstone, Zambia", "Department of Cardiovascular Science and Metabolic Diseases, Livingstone Center for Prevention and Translational Science, Livingstone, Zambia" ], "article_type": "Research Article", "arxiv": null, "author_total": 7, "authors": [ { "affs": [ 0 ], "name": "Mavis S. Nyakayoya" }, { "affs": [ 1 ], "name": "Dennis Chisala" }, { "affs": [ 2 ], "name": "Kennedy Lubundi" }, { "affs": [ 3 ], "name": "Hariet Milambo" }, { "affs": [ 4 ], "name": "Masiliso A. Liamba" }, { "affs": [ 5 ], "name": "Kesaobaka Batisani" }, { "affs": [ 6 ], "name": "David Chisompola" } ], "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/03t5sp16fs87f.bib", "cited_by": 0, "doi": "10.1371/journal.pgph.0007348", "fulltext_url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0007348", "id": "03t5sp16fs87f", "issns": [ "2767-3375" ], "landing_url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0007348", "language": null, "licence": "CC-BY-4.0", "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0", "licence_source": "journal", "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "metadata_licence": null, "native_subjects": [ [ "openalex", "2725|Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Medical microbiology/Microbial pathogens/Bacterial pathogens/Staphylococcus/Staphylococcus aureus" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Medical microbiology/Microbial pathogens/Bacterial pathogens/Staphylococcus/Staphylococcus aureus/Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Microbial control/Antimicrobial resistance" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Microbial control/Antimicrobial resistance/Antibiotic resistance" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Microbial control/Antimicrobials/Antibiotics" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Microbial control/Antimicrobials/Antibiotics/Clindamycin" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Microbial control/Antimicrobials/Antibiotics/Doxycycline" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Microbial control/Antimicrobials/Antibiotics/Erythromycin" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Bacteria/Staphylococcus/Staphylococcus aureus" ], [ "plos", "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Bacteria/Staphylococcus/Staphylococcus aureus/Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Pathology and laboratory medicine/Pathogens/Microbial pathogens/Bacterial pathogens/Staphylococcus/Staphylococcus aureus" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Pathology and laboratory medicine/Pathogens/Microbial pathogens/Bacterial pathogens/Staphylococcus/Staphylococcus aureus/Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Pharmacology/Antimicrobial resistance" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Pharmacology/Antimicrobial resistance/Antibiotic resistance" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Pharmacology/Drugs/Antimalarials/Doxycycline" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Pharmacology/Drugs/Antimicrobials/Antibiotics" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Pharmacology/Drugs/Antimicrobials/Antibiotics/Clindamycin" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Pharmacology/Drugs/Antimicrobials/Antibiotics/Doxycycline" ], [ "plos", "/Medicine and health sciences/Pharmacology/Drugs/Antimicrobials/Antibiotics/Erythromycin" ] ], "openalex": "W7214181357", "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0007348&type=printable", "pmcid": null, "pmid": null, "published": "2026-09-24", "publisher": "Public Library of Science", "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/03t5sp16fs87f.ris", "sources": [ { "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:43Z", "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pgph.0007348", "source": "plos", "url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0007348" } ], "subjects": [ { "field": "biology", "origin": "plos:microbiology", "subfield": "microbiology" }, { "field": "medicine", "origin": "plos:pharmacology", "subfield": "pharmacology-toxicology" } ], "title": "High prevalence and multidrug resistance of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus at a provincial referral hospital in Zambia: A 5-year retrospective study", "title_text": "High prevalence and multidrug resistance of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus at a provincial referral hospital in Zambia: A 5-year retrospective study", "type": "peer-reviewed", "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:43Z", "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/03t5sp16fs87f", "venue": "PLOS Global Public Health", "versions": [] }