Reports of Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus from Middle East Countries

[Context]Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important pathogens worldwide. The emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcusaureus (MRSA) made vancomycin as the only therapeutic choice. Due to excessive use of vancomycin, decreased susceptibility and increased resistance against this antibiotic are reported worldwide. The current study aimed at investigating the emergence of vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) in different regions of the Middle-East.[Evidence Acquisition]All reputable databases, such as Google Scholar and PubMed, were screened for articles and abstracts reporting VRSA in the Middle-East by the appropriate keywords. Reliable phenotypic and genotypic studies were included in the current review. [Results]Reviewing all articles/abstracts revealed more than 100 reports of VRSA isolates from the Middle-East. Most of the studies did not use the clinical and laboratory standards institute (CLSI) guidelines on VRSA identification. Until 2012, four VRSA strains were reported from Iran, 7 from Egypt, and 1 from Pakistan. From 2012 to 2016, seven VRSA isolates were added to the global statistics from the Middle-East; 1 from Iran and 6 from Egypt. [Conclusions]VRSA is a global health threat. According to the expanding reports on the emersion of VRSA, more attention should be paid to the proper prescription of this antibiotic as the only choice for S. aureus infections.