Study of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization in the nose of medical staff in Sina and Imam Reza hospitals

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is known to be the most resistant pathogen in hospitals, which can infect both the health workers and patients. The most common site for colonization is the anterior part of the nose and throat. In order to prevent and control the infection and the role of medical personnel as a carrier for transmitting infection, the aim of this study was to determine the amount of nasal colonization with MRSA in the medical staff of Sina and Imam Reza Hospital in Tabriz.

Methods: The present cross-sectional study evaluated 400 participants. From the entire medical staff of Sina and imam Reza hospitals in 2017 who were willing to participate in this study. Sterile swabs inserted in to the anterior region of the nose. Then swabs were immediately cultured in a laboratory in mannitol salt agar blood agar for 24 hours and incubated for 48 to 72 hours, to determine the MRSA strains, Cefoxitin disc method was used in Muller Hinton Agar culture media. Descriptive statistical methods and Chi2 test was used for statistical analyses. P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: 55% of the health care workers (220) were carriers of Staphylococcus aureus, mean age was 38.27 ± 8.72 years and 61.8% were male. Internal ward health care workers were common Staphylococcus aureus carriers and diabetes was the most common systemic disease. Out of 37.8% had a history of previous hospital admission and 87.2% had antibiotic use. Also, methicillin resistance was observed in out of 32.7% of subjects.

Conclusion: Constant control of infectious agents and the use of Proper antibiotics can be effective in controlling carriers and even drug-resistant cases.