Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Nasal Carriage among Health Care Workers in Intensive Care Units

Abstract

To detect the nasal carriage rate of Methicillin Resistant S. aureus (MRSA) among healthcare workers (HCWs) in the Intensive Care Units by Chromogenic medium and PCR assay, Out of 63 nasal samples, 30 (47.6%) S. aureus isolates were recovered. Out of the 30 isolates, 17 were methicillin resistant. Nasal carriage rate of MRSA was found to be 56.7% among HCWs. Regarding the prevalence of MRSA in relation to the work type, sex and age group of HCWs, the highest rate (83.3%) was seen in the Utility Worker, (64.7%) in the male and (47%) in age group 20 to 29 years. All MRSA isolates which detected by Chromogenic method and confirmed by PCR assay showed the presence of mecA gene. Also this study demonstrated higher compatible 100% in sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV between the two methods. In other side all MRSA isolates from HCWs were multidrug resistant (MDR) and high resistant (100%) to Beta-lactam antibiotics: oxacillin, amoxicillin, methicillin ampicillin, and cefoxitin followed by other antibiotics: erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, gentamycin and clindamycin which showed resistance rates 58.8%, 47%, 35.3%, 23.5% and 17.6%, respectively, but they showed high susceptibility to vancomycin.