Background. Staphylococcus aureus can asymptomatically colonize the human anterior nares and skin, and nasal colonization by this bacterium represents a potential risk for development of invasive infections. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of S. aureus nasal carriage among healthcare workers and students attending a university hospital and to characterize the isolates phenotypically and molecularly. Methods. A cross-sectional study was performed with 324 volunteers. Cultures from nasal samples were obtained and S. aureus isolates were characterized according to their antimicrobial susceptibility profile and four virulence factors-encoding genes. MRSA isolates were characterized regarding their oxacillin/cefoxitin susceptibility, SCCmec, and REP-PCR types. Potential risks for S. aureus and MRSA carriage were analyzed. Results. Of 324 nasal samples, 42.9% were identified as S. aureus, of which 28.8% were MRSA. S. aureus carriers were significantly higher in males and students (OR = 2.898, 95%CI 1.553–5.410); however, no variables were associated with MRSA carriage. All isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and the highest rate of resistance was observed for penicillin (90.6%). All isolates harbored the coa gene, and 97.8%, the icaA gene; 15.8% and 6.5% were positive for tst and lukS-PV/lukF-PV genes, respectively. Among MRSA isolates, 45% carried the mecA gene but were phenotypically susceptible to oxacillin/cefoxitin; two harbored the tst and none had lukS-PV/lukF-PV genes. All MRSAs were distributed into six SCCmec types and type I (62.5%) was the most frequent. REP-PCR typing identified four main clusters among MRSA isolates. Conclusion. High prevalence of healthcare workers and students were identified as nasal carriers of S. aureus exhibiting different antimicrobial resistance profiles, including mecA-positive oxacillin-susceptible S. aureus (OS-MRSA) and the presence of virulence-encoding genes. Both cohorts may represent potential sources for the emergence of a successful S. aureus strain highly adapted to the hospital environment.

O estudo teve como objetivo investigar as principais demandas para uso dos aparelhos celulares no ambiente de trabalho, o conhecimento quanto à contaminação desses aparelhos, bem como identificar a frequência e o perfil microbiológico da contaminação dos celulares de profissionais de saúde atuantes no setor de terapia intensiva pediátrica. Trata-se de um estudo transversal realizado em março de 2020 no setor de terapia intensiva pediátrica de um Hospital Universitário do norte do Paraná. A amostra do estudo foi composta por 12 profissionais de saúde e seus respectivos celulares. Do total da amostra, todos afirmaram utilizar o celular no ambiente de trabalho, ter conhecimento quanto ao potencial de contaminação destes aparelhos por microrganismos e sua consequente colaboração na transmissão de patógenos no ambiente hospitalar. Dentre os profissionais, 66,7% afirmam que higienizam as mãos após o uso do celular, 83,3% asseguram ter o hábito de higienizar o celular e 66,7% afirmam higienizar o celular quando deixam o ambiente de trabalho. Dentre os celulares analisados microbiologicamente, 66,7% apresentavam contaminação por bactérias Gram-positivas. Estes resultados indicam a necessidade de instituir protocolos que estimulem a desinfecção dos celulares pelos profissionais de saúde durante a jornada laboral, bem como a promoção de ações que conscientizem esta população, visto que esta tecnologia se transformou em ferramenta complementar ao trabalho.

Introduction: The health environment can act as a reservoir for microorganisms. For microbiological control, it is necessary to effectively disinfect and to monitor the quality of this process. Aim: To evaluate, through microbial analysis, the effectiveness of concurrent disinfection of the patient care unit of patients receiving intensive care. Outlining: Cross sectional, descriptive, and observational. Microbiological cultures were performed in the patient's unit, before and after concurrent disinfection using 70% ethyl alcohol. The analysis of the cultures was performed by standard methodology. Results: 42 surfaces were investigated. At the time of pre-disinfection, contamination was identified on 26 (62.0%) surfaces, with the touch screen panels of the mechanical ventilators (6040 CFU/mL - 85.7%) being the ones with the highest microbial quantity (6040 CFU/mL - 85.7%), followed by bedside lockers (2380 CFU/mL - 57.1%) and the bed side rails (650 CFU/mL - 42.9%). After disinfection, 65.3% (17) of the surfaces achieved a total reduction in colony count. Implications: The importance of carrying out concurrent disinfection, with 70% ethyl alcohol, on inanimate surfaces with a high degree of contact with hands in the intensive care unit, for the reduction of the microbial load and promotion of a biologically safe environment for the patient was evidenced.

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