Frequency of Vectors of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Among Emergency Staff of Vali-e-Asr Hospital in Arak City, 2018

Staphylococcus aureus is common pathogens of nosocomial infections. Nasal swabs in hospital staff is main sources of hospital infections are considered. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of nasopharyngeal carriers of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and microbial contamination of health care workerschr('39') cell phones in Emergency department of Vali-e-Asr Hospital in Arak City.

Methods & Materials:

 In this descriptive study, nose swabs and cell phone levels were taken from 70 health care workers in the emergency ward of Vali-e-Asr Hospital. The Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates were identified using standard microbiological methods (catalase, coagulase, mannitol fermentation and DNase). The susceptibility to oxacillin and cefoxitin was detected by the disk diffusion and the mecA genes in this clinically isolated strain of staphylococci was investigated by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).

Ethical Considerations: 

This study was approved by the Research Ethics committee of Arak University of Medical Sciences. (Code : IR.ARAKMU.REC.1396.282).

 According the results, Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 16 cases, which 5 cases were methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA), and 11 cases were Methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Also, 3 cell phones were infected with Staphylococcus aureus, which 1 case was MRSA and 2 cases were MSSA.

 The results of this study showed that frequency of MSSA strains is significant in emergency personnel of the hospital. Thus, regarding to the risk of epidemics due to nosocomial infections, periodic testing for the identification and treatment of carriers among employees for controlling and preventing hospital infections seems necessary.