Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is considered a serious public health problem. This study aimed to estimate the rate of MRSA among Staphylococcus aureus isolates of inpatients and to determine their susceptibility to antibiotics and some of the virulence genes. The study was conducted from April 2021 to March 2022 and involved specimens from 302 inpatients admitted to Azadi and Bedari teaching hospitals in Duhok province. Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 20.53% (62/302) of the examined specimens with the highest rate (37,50%) from surgical swabs. Antibiotics sensitivity tests showed that all isolates were resistant to penicillin G. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus was detected in 77.42% (48/62) of S. aureus isolates with a higher rate from skin swabs (85.71%). According to gender, a significantly (P 40-50 years showed the highest rate of MRSA isolate (24.62%). Among MRSA, 77.08% (37/48) were multidrug resistant. Molecular analysis revealed the presence of nuc, mecA, pvl and eta genes at rates of 100%, 66.6%, 31.2% and 22.9%, respectively among the analyzed isolates.