Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BackgroundThe nation of Timor-Leste has a significant burden of infectious disease but has historically had limited diagnostic capacity and limited availability of microbiology data on human health. Recent developments in the diagnosis and reporting of key pathogens including Staphylococcus aureus have allowed better understanding of the burden of key infectious diseases and their impact on the population of Timor-Leste. MethodsA prospective observational study was performed on clinical isolates of S. aureus received at Laboratório da Saúde in Dili, Timor-Leste between January 2020 and July 2020. Clinical samples were obtained from patients living in 11 of the 13 municipalities in Timor-Leste. Standard microbiology culture, identification, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were performed, and clinical and demographic data were collected on laboratory-confirmed S. aureus isolates. ResultsA total of 59 clinical isolates of S. aureus were identified. Most patients in our study were found to have community-acquired S. aureus (75%), whilst the remaining 25% were hospital-associated infections. Of S. aureus isolates, 25% were found to be methicillin-resistant. ConclusionThis is the first description of S. aureus infections in Timor-Leste. The high MRSA rates identified in this study can be used to better inform guidelines for the empirical treatment of S. aureus infection. Continuous investment in detecting clinically important pathogens and understanding their susceptibility profiles is critical for the development of treatment guidelines and antibiotic stewardship activities.
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7157198408
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