A Review of Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Prevalence in Egypt and Saudi Arabia

Staphylococcus aureus is considered an important and dangerous pathogen worldwide. Vancomycin was extensively used for treatment of the emerging methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), but this led to the emergence of vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA). Epidemiological and molecular data on VRSA are still scarce in both Egypt and Saudi Arabia. We conducted the present study to review the emergence of VRSA in Egypt and Saudi Arabia until December 2018. Among 220 VRSA isolates reported, only 10 of them were detected in Saudi Arabia and the remaining 210 were detected in Egypt. Nearly, all the reported VRSA isolates were multidrug resistant. Many factors contribute to differences in the prevalence of VRSA between Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Accurate diagnostic techniques, stringent infection control, rationale antibiotic use, environmental hygiene and improving the knowledge of the healthcare workers about VRSA in Saudi Arabia are proved to be effective in limiting its spread.