Gentamicin resistant Staphylococcus aureus associated with the use of topical gentamicin

Abstract

An outbreak of gentamicin resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection involving 23 patients in the Dermatology Unit of our hospital seemed to be associated with a large usage of topical gentamicin. Fifty-eight isolates were obtained and in contrast to a previously reported outbreak (Speller et al., 1976) where all isolates showed a common bateriophage type and antibiotic resistance pattern, 7 different bacteriophage types and 8 patterns of antibiotic resistance were observed. The predominant bacteriophage type was 53/85⁺ and all isolates except one were lysed by the experimental bacteriophage 90. Comparisons are drawn between staphylococcal resistance to gentamicin and to neomycin.