Nasal carriage and antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcus aureus isolates of Razi hospital personel, Qaemshahr, 1382

Background and Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSÂ) is one of the most important nosocomial pathogen with increasing prevalence in recent three decades worldwide. The most important source of infection is spread through health care worker. This cross sectional study was performed among personell of Razi hospital in a one month period (autum 2003) to determine the perevalence of S.aureus nasal carrier and its antibiotic resistance pattern. Ânterior nasal sampling from healthy personel was done using sterile moistened cotton swab, and the sample inserted into Neutral medium (broth) and transferred to the laberatory for assessing the existence of S.aurens and antibiogram related to seven antibiotics considering the NÇÇLS criteria. This study revealed that 36% of participants had nasal clonization of S.aureus. Çarriage rate of S.aureus and MRSÂ differed in various professional groups, (about 40% in medical staff and 48% in paramedical staff). The highest rate of resistance was against Ôxacillin 83% (the indicator of MRSÂ) and the lowest was against chloramphenicole (2.8%). Resistance against Vancomycin (VRSÂ) was seen in 2 cases (5.5%) Çonclusion: Ïn this study, carriage prevalence was less than expected but similar to the prevalence in the community (20.40%). Ântibiotic resistance was unexpectedly higher than the other studies though. High prevalence of MRSÂ and specially, existence of VRSÂ & VÏSÂ must be considered very seriously. Ït can be the result of continious exposure of organisms with various types of antibiotics and unrestricted use of antibiotics in hospitals.