Nasal Screening of Health Care Workers (Nursing staff) to Study the Prevalence of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Carriage and its Antibiotic Sensitivity Profile in a Rural Tertiary Health Care Center

Staphylococcus aureus is a common bug responsible for infections ranging from minor skin infections to fatal sepsis. Common colonizing sites include anterior nares, hand surfaces. Inadequate use of antibiotics has led to development of resistance giving rise to bugs like MRSA. Nursing staff particularly has a greater duration of patient contact and is thus more likely to become MRSA carrier- hence chosen as study population. This study aimed to study the prevalence and antimicrobial sensitivity profile of MRSA isolated from nasal carriers among nursing staff.

A short-term cross-sectional study done in which nursing staff members were screened for nasal carriage of MRSA by collecting swabs from anterior nares. S.aureus isolates were screened for Methicillin susceptibility using cefoxitin disc. MRSA thus obtained were studied for antibiotic sensitivity profile by using Vitek-2 compact.

Study showed the nasal carriage of MRSA as 13.3%. Maximum carriage was in staff members with >5 years of work experience in hospital. All isolates showed 100% resistance to Ampicillin, Erythromycin, Amoxiclav. Sensitivity reported was 12.5% to Ciprofloxacin; 37.5% to Clindamycin and Amikacin; 87.5% to Cotrimoxazole. All isolates were 100% sensitive to Linezolid, Vancomycin, Teicoplanin and Rifampin.

This study showed a significant carriage of MRSA in the nursing staff. Considering that nurses are more involved in-patient care activity, regular screening should be done. Also, the importance of handwashing should be emphasized. Strict implementation of hospital infection control norms is necessary.