| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2015 | Volume
: 1
| Issue : 1 | Page : 16-19 |
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Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Nasal Carriage Among Health-care Workers: Decolonization and Follow-up Study Conducted in a Tertiary Care Hospital
P Thilakavathy, GS Vijaykumar, A Ramesh, Anand B Janagond, T Rajendran, SS Jeremiah, G Vithiya
Department of Microbiology, Velammal Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Anupanadi, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
Correspondence Address:
Dr. P Thilakavathy
Department of Microbiology, Velammal Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Anupanadi, Madurai - 625 009, Tamil Nadu
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
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Background: Hospitals worldwide are increasingly concerned by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In recent years, nasal colonization of MRSA among health-care workers (HCWs) is one of the major sources of nosocomial infections in the hospital. The aim of the study was to find out the prevalence of MRSA carriers among the heath care workers and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of the isolates and postdecolonization screening for clearance of MRSA. Materials and Methods: Nasal swabs of HCWs were collected, cultured, and identified as MRSA using standard microbiological procedures. Antibiotic susceptibility was done by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Decolonization with mupirocin ointment was given to MRSA carriers and postdecolonization screening was done. Results: Nasal carriage rate among the HCW was found to be 3.25%. MRSA isolates showed higher resistance erythromycin (40%) followed by ciprofloxacin (30%) and all the isolates were sensitive to amikacin, teicoplanin, linezolid, mupirocin, and rifampicin. Successful decolonization was done for 9 (2.9%) MRSA carriers. Conclusion: Screening and decolonization of HCWs MRSA status should always be part of a comprehensive infection control policy including staff education and emphasizing high compliance with hand hygiene and contact precautions. |
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