Comparative Study of Prevalence of MRSA on Surfaces of Different Laboratories in Bangalore in the COVID-19 Era

Abstract

Background Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus MRSA is endemic in India. MRSA prevalence ranges from 25 in the western part of India to 50 in the southern part. India is reporting an increase in community-acquired MRSA CA-MRSA. This research was carried out in six diagnostic centers for a period of one month during July 2020 to determine the prevalence of MRSA and susceptibility pattern of S. aureus isolates on high contact surfaces of NABL laboratories and non-NABL laboratories.Aim The goal of this study was to assess the performance of new infection control systems in the COVID-19 period in preventing MRSA colonization on high contact surfaces in laboratories and to see if they adhered to high standards NABL.Material amp Methods Total 96 swabs were taken from the following surfaces - waiting area collection room doorknob reception desk workbench incubator knob chair edges faucet knob. Two swabs were collected from each surface one was inoculated into nutrient agar and the other was inoculated on mannitol salt agar. The isolates were identified by appearance of colonies followed by catalase and coagulase tests and final identification was done by VITEK-2 system. Antibiotic sensitivity test was performed to check the MRSA strain.Results None of the surfaces of either NABL laboratories or non-NABL laboratories showed the growth of MRSA.Conclusion Based on the findings of the present study it can be concluded that all the procedures followed were highly effective for the control of the prevalence of MRSA by contact contamination.