Prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] colonization or carriage among health-care workers

Abstract

In Oman, the prevalence of health care associated methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus [HA-MRSA] is unknown. Therefore, to estimate the prevalence of HA-MRSA, we collected nasal swabs and swabs from cell phones on sterile polyester swabs and immediately inoculated on the mannitol salt agar containing oxacillin from medical students and hospital health care providers. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of the isolates was then performed using the Kirby Bauer's disc diffusion method. Additionally, a brief survey questionnaire was used to acquire demographic data. Amongst the 311 participants enrolled, nasal colonization with HA-MRSA was found in 47 individuals (15.1%, 95% confidence interval [CI]=11.1%, 19.1%). HA-MRSA was also isolated from the cell phone surfaces in 28 participants (9.0%, 95% CI=8.6%, 9.3%). 5 participants (1.6%) showed positive results both from their nasal swabs and from their cell phones. Antibiotic resistance to erythromycin [48%] and clindamycin [29%] was relatively high. 9.3% HA-MRSA isolates were vancomycin resistant [6.6% nasal carriage]. There was no statistically significant correlation between HA-MRSA isolates and the demographic characteristics or the risk factors namely gender, underlying co-morbidities like diabetes, hypertension, skin/soft tissue infections, skin ulcers/wounds, recent exposure to antibiotics, or hospital visits (p>0.05, Chi-square test).

Frequency of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in nose and cellular phone of medical and non-medical personnel of emergency departments of Ghaem hospital in Mashhad city

“…In this study, antibiotic susceptibility tests revealed that the HA-MRSA isolates are sensitive to most antibiotics, but there was a high rate of resistance against erythromycin (48%) and clindamycin (29%). 32 In contrast, our current study shows a significantly higher percentage of nasal carriage of HA-MRSA. However, our results are similar to the Chinese study conducted in 2011.…”

Mechanistic insight into the photodynamic effect mediated by porphyrin-fullerene C60 dyads in solution and in Staphylococcus aureus cells

“…1,2 Thus, infections that could be treated without problem in the past, today they have become a challenge to be eradicated in hospitals throughout the world. [3][4][5][6] Therefore, new treatments to deal with this situation are being sought. 7,8 A new alternative to controlling microorganism infections is photodynamic inactivation (PDI).…”

Colonização bacteriana e resistência antimicrobiana em trabalhadores de saúde: revisão integrativa

“…(28) According to the studies analyzed, the hands and nostrils were the main reservoirs of the microorganisms. (29)(30)(31) The ability of Staphylococcus aureus to become pathogenic to individuals is a matter of great concern. In recent years, bacteria have become an increasingly prominent cause of occupational health-related infections.…”

“…(33) Recent articles have proven the resistance to beta-lactams, such as erythromycin, ciprofloxacin and clindamycin. (29,30) All this evidence demonstrates the need to produce new antibiotics to combat multi-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. (28) More recently, mutation has favored the emergence of vancomycin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus, and it has been possible to identify that these bacteria are progressing in their resistance capability due to the uncontrolled use of pharmaceutical drugs.…”

“…(28) This resistance has also been confirmed in health workers. (30) Another factor that could be taken into consideration is the sectors where the studies were conducted, since most occurred in emergency departments and intensive care units, (12,17,18,22,25,27) environments characterized by weakened people in need of high complexity care, including antibiotic drug treatments. This could affect resistance to antimicrobials and continuously expose workers to this type of drug.…”