Nasal Carriage Rate of Staphylococcus Aureus and MRSA among Health Care Workers in Tertiary Care Center

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is a gram positive bacterium responsible for several bacterial infections. S. aureus especially methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), are usually resistant to several antibiotics which is a global public health problem, associated with considerable mortality and morbidity worldwide. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus continues to be an important nosocomial pathogen and infections are often difficult to manage due to its resistance to multiple antibiotics. Healthcare workers are important source of nosocomial transmission of MRSA. This study aimed to determine the frequency of staphylococcal nasal carriage of health care workers (HCWs) and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of the isolates in Gandaki Medical College and Research Centre Pvt. Ltd, Pokhara. The study was conducted in altogether 288 samples. For isolation and identification of MRSA culture and different biochemical tests were performed. Out of 58 (20.14%) S. aureus isolated 18.97% are MRSA, more MRSA was noticed in female (19.15%) than male (18.18%). However, there is no significant association between gender and MRSA (p=0.723). The prevalence of nasal carrier MRSA is 3.82%. Hence, it was concluded that prevalence of MRSA still emerging. Nasal carriage of S. aureus and MRSA among HCWs necessitates the need of control in the frequency of their exposure with the vulnerable patients and need of strict infection control measures to be followed to control the nosocomial infections. The results emphasize the need for high standards of infection control in tertiary care. Vancomycin and Amikacin was found to be most effective (100%) against Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus.