English

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen in hospital associated infections as well as in community acquired infections. About 20-40% of healthy persons carry Staphylococci in the nose. Most dreadly strains of S.aureus are Methicillin resistant S.aureus (MRSA) strains. Till recent times these MRSA strains were restricted to hospitals only as Health care associated MRSA (HA-MRSA). But now these strains have also emerged in community, called as Community associated MRSA (CA-MRSA). AIM: 1. To study the nasal carriage rate of, Staphylococcus aureus in community and in hospital setting in adult males and it's Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern. 2. To compare the nasal carriage rate of HA-MRSA with that of CA-MRSA and their Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nasal swabs were collected from anterior nares of control group (100 healthy adult males with no risk factors for acquisition of HA- MRSA) and study group (100 patients) from June 2011- August 2011. Samples were inoculated on Mannitol Salt Agar and incubated at 37 0c for 24-48hrs. Yellow colonies were considered as Staphylococcus aureus and after confirmation, they were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility test by Modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion test. RESULTS: Nasal carriage rate of Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA was 14% & 4% in healthy individuals and 27% & 11% in patients, with significant p value. Community associated S.aureus and CA-MRSA were more susceptible to antimicrobials than Hospital associated S.aureus and HA-MRSA. All hospital strains and 85.78% community strains were resistant to penicillin. All strains were more susceptible to Amikacin and ciprofloxacin and least susceptible to co-trimoxazole. CONCLUSIONS : Nasal carriage rate of MRSA was higher in hospitalized patients than in general population. Resistance pattern was more in hospital strains.