Prevalence of Colonization of MRSA in Health care workers – making the compliance to Hand hygiene a need of the hour

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of community and healthcare infections, and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is currently the most commonly identified antibiotic-resistant pathogen in many parts of the world. Patients, contaminated surfaces as well as health care workers can play a role as reservoirs for spread of MRSA in hospitals. A prospective cross-sectional study is conducted to to find out the prevalence of colonization of MRSA and bacterial contamination on the hands of health care providers and to report their antibiogram for appropriate decolonization therapy. Nasal and interdigital space swabs were collected from 60 health care providers (Doctors-36, staff nurse-14, ward boys-10) from burns ward. The Specimens were processed and suspected colonies of Staphylococcus aureus were identified by standard bacteriological techniques. The strains of MRSA were identified by using Cefoxitin (30mcg) disk on Muellier Hinton agar. Out of total 60 nasal swabs from HCP 30 (50%) yielded S. aureus of which 13(21.6%) were MRSA. Of 36 nasal swabs from Doctors 18(50%) were Staphylococcus aureus, with 7(38%) MRSA strains. Out of 14 staff nurses 8(57%) were S. aureus , where 4(50%) were MRSA. out of 10 ward boys 4 (40%) were S. aureus , of which 2 (50%)were MRSA. Out of the total 60 inter digital spaces 24 (40%)yielded S. aureus of which 10(41%) were MRSA and 24(40%) were contaminants. out of 36 Doctors 12(33.3%) were with S. aureus with 4(33) MRSA and 6 (16%) contaminants. Out of 14 staff nurses 7(50%) were S. aureus of which 3 (42%)were MRSA and contaminants were 8 (57%). Among the 10 ward boys 5 (50%)were S. aureus among this 3 (60%)were MRSA and 6 (60%) were contaminants. Most of the S. aureus strains were sensitive for clindamycin, Vancomycin, Ofloxacin Linezolid. All the MRSA carriers were given Clindamycin and their samples were recollected after 2 weeks which were found negative.

MRSA colonization in health care professionals with varying degrees of exposure to the hospital environment and its susceptibility to mupirocin in a tertiary care centre

“…The prevalence of MRSA may vary between institutions, geographic areas, study design, sample size and method employed for MRSA detection. 25 The limitation of this study was relatively small sample size and an increase in sample size could have yielded statistically significant results.…”