Arshad J, Rasheed F, Yousaf N W, Iram S.
Nasal Carriage Rate Of Methicilin Resistent Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Among Health Care Workers Of A Tertiary Care Hospital.
Biomedica Jan ;33(1):9-13.

Background and Objective: Nosocomial infections are increasing worldwide. Staphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen causing nosocomial infections. Anterior nasal nares are ideal site for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to reside. Health care workers who are carrier of MRSA, can transmit Staphylococcus to the patients, which is a significant cause of increase in nosocomial infections worldwide. The objective of this study was to find out the nasal carriage rate of MRSA among health care workers of a tertiary care hospital. Methods: It was cross sectional study conducted from July 2014 to Feb 2015 at Pathology Department, Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore. One hundred nasal swab samples were collected from health care workers of Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. Anterior nasal swabs were taken from health care workers. Swabs were inoculated on blood and mannitol salt agar and incubated at 37ºC for 24 hours. Growth of Staphylococcus was identified on colonial morphology, Gram stain, catalase test, coagulase test, DNAse test. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by using cefoxitin disc 30 µg for MRSA screening. Results: In our study 100 nasal swab samples were collected. S.aureus was isolated from 40 nasal swab samples of health care workers. Out of total 40 S.aureus isolates, 27 were MRSA. Out of total 41 (37%) samples of doctors, 10 (24.39%) yielded MRSA. Out of 29 (22.2%) samples of nursing staff, 6 (20.69%) yielded MRSA. Out of 30 (40.7%) samples of sanitary workers, 11 (36.66%) yielded MRSA. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated among 40% samples of health care workers, out of which 27% were MRSA. Conclusion: The result of our study revealed an alarming rate of nasal carriage of MRSA among health care workers of Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. The nasal carriage rate of MRSA in this study is 27%, which is a serious threat to patient and important source of nosocomial infections. It should be a routine to screen all health care workers twice yearly for MRSA nasal carriage.

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