Nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococci among healthcare workers of a university teaching hospital, Iran

Abstract

Background: The opportunistic pathogens, methicillin-resistant- (MRSA) and , are associated with severe nosocomial infections and high levels of mortality. Healthcare workers colonized with either MRSA or methicillin-resistant (MRSE) in the nasal cavity are high risk groups for transmitting the agent to hospitalized patients. Objective: This study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of nasal carriage of MRSA and methicillin-resistant among healthcare providers of Imam Reza University Teaching Hospital, Tabriz, Iran. Methods: A total of one hundred two nasal swabs were obtained from participants working on different wards of the hospitals. The antibiotic resistance pattern was investigated using disk diffusion methods, which were subsequently evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the gene.Results: In the screened population, 22 isolates of and 72 of were detected. Of these, 7 isolates of and 36 of were cefoxitin resistant. Three isolates of isolates and 35 of were MRSE and positive for amplification. Moreover, all isolates were penicillin G resistant but vancomycin and linezolid sensitive. High resistance was observed to clindamycin (74%). Conclusions: The present study indicates that healthcare workers are at high risk of acquisition and transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococci. Early screening and decolonization of hospital staff, as well as education on standard sanitation measures, especially hand hygiene practice, remain the most effective strategies for controlling transmission of infectious agents.

Keywords

• mrsa
• methicillin-resistant s. epidermidis
• nasal carrier
• healthcare worker
• infection control