DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2015.v03i08.015

Pages: 720-724

Several studies have observed that nasal carriage of MRSA among health care workers, acts as a source of endogenous infection. It also becomes a source for nosocomial and community spread of infections. Nosocomial infections resulting from MRSA are often, resistant to wide spectrum of antibiotics. We conducted a study to determine the prevalence and antibiotic resistance pattern of MRSA nasal carriage, among health care workers of tertiary care hospital of South India. Pre-moistened nasal swabs from health care workers (doctors, nurses, technicians and class IV workers) were obtained. These swabs were plated on 10% sheep blood agar, Mac Conkey agar, mannitol salt agar and Hichrom MeReSa agar. Antibiogram was done by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. MRSA were detected by measuring the cefoxitin zone diameter as per CLSI guidelines. The resistance was confirmed by doing the MIC for oxacillin using Hi Comb MIC strip. The MRSA carriers were subjected to decontamination protocol with 2% mupirocin ointment and 2% chlorhexidine bath. After completion of decontamination protocol, the carriers were sampled again.Of the 300 nasal swabs collected, 28 (9.3%) were Staphylococcus aureus, of which 4 (1.33%) were MRSA. These isolates were resistant to penicillin (71.4%), and erythromycin (67.9%). All the isolates were sensitive to linezolid and vancomycin. The repeat cultures that were taken after the decontamination protocol, were negative. The prevalence of MRSA among health care workers, in our hospital was 1.33%. This study reiterates the need for early detection and treatment of nasal carriage among health care workers, so as to prevent the spread of MRSA in hospital environment and in the community.