Abstract :
Introduction: Staphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen causing infection among patients in
hospital settings and people in the community. Health care workers (HCW’s) being the common source and
reservoir for transmission of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Active surveillance
of HCW’s for detection of MRSA carriage is important to prevent MRSA infections in the hospital and
simultaneous spill of infections into the community.
Materials and Methods: This hospital based cross sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital
in rural Kerala. Nasal swabbing was done for 550 HCW’s. Samples were inoculated into Sheep blood agar
& selective medium like mannitol salt agar. Staphylococcus aureus was identified by colony morphology,
Gram stain and catalase test. It was confirmed by tube coagulase test. Methicillin resistance was detected
using Cefoxitin disc and interpreted as per CLSI guidelines. MRSA carriers identified were decolonized
with Mupirocin ointment.
Results: Screening among HCW’s revealed 22.54% were positive for Staphylococcus aureus of which
10.73% harboured MRSA in their nasal cavity.
Conclusion: Active surveillance for MRSA nasal carriage among HCW’s and decolonization of carriers is
important. Strict adherence to hand washing and infection control practices are also equally important.
Keyword :
Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, Nasal carriage, Health Care workers decolonizationtherapy