Screening for Methicillin - Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage among the health care workers in a tertiary care center

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Original Article

Author Details : Sapana Govindlalji Mundhada, Nasira Khalid Shaikh, Vishal Rajkumar Gudlani, Mayuri Pramod Bhise, Kis

Volume : 4, Issue : 2, Year : 2017

Article Page : 150-153

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Abstract

Introduction: It was observed that Health care workers (HCW) play an important role in the transmission of MRSA between the patients in the hospital environment. The aim of present study was to find out the carriage rate of MRSA among the HCWs in the critical care units in our setting.
Material and Method: All healthy HCWs involved in the management of critically ill patients were recruited into the study. By using sterile cotton swabs, specimens were collected from the anterior nares, finger web spaces and finger print directly taken on Brain-Heart infusion agar plate. Staphylococcus aureus was identified by the standard procedure. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed according to the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. MRSA was identified by using a cefoxitin disc.
Result: Among the 112 HCWs who were screened for MRSA, 54(48.21%) were Nurses and Brothers, 26(23.22%) were nursing students and 32(28.57%) were doctors. Twenty one (18.75%) Staphylococcus aureus strains were isolated. Among them 14 (12.5%) were MRSA. The proportion of nasal carriage of MRSA was higher 9(8.04%) than that on hand 5(4.46%). The highest carriage rate was noted in nurses and brothers (7.14%). Antimicrobial pattern of MRSA had revealed 100% sensitivity to Vancomycin and Linezolid while highest resistance to penicillin, Erythromycin and ciprofloxacin in the present study.
Conclusion: MRSA carriage among HCW can be reduce by their regular Screening and decolonization. Strict standard infection control practices should be employed to minimize either the carriage or the transmission rate of MRSA.

Keywords: Nasal carriage, Health care workers, MRSA

How to cite : Mundhada S G, Shaikh N K, Gudlani V R, Bhise M P, Kis, Screening for Methicillin - Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage among the health care workers in a tertiary care center. Indian J Microbiol Res 2017;4(2):150-153

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