Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus among the interns before and after posting in the department of surgery at a tertiary care hospital

Abstract

Context: Staphylococcus aureus could be a commensal in the anterior nares of a health-care personnel. There are no studies on Staphylococcal nasal carriage among interns before and after posting in the department of surgery. Aims: To find out the prevalence of Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) among interns before and after the surgical posting. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study was carried out on interns at the time of entry and exit from their surgical posting in a tertiary care hospital. Methods and Material: Paired nasal swabs, collected at the entry and exit, from anterior nares of 130 interns during their 60-day surgical posting, were cultured, and Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and MRSA were detected. The sensitivity pattern of MRSA strains was determined. The knowledge of spread and prevention of MRSA among interns was assessed. Results: MSSA was detected in the anterior nares of 36 (27.7%) interns at entry had dropped significantly to 19 (14.6%) by the end of the surgical posting. The prevalence of MRSA rose from 6 (4.6%) to 8 (6.2%) by the end. Autoinfections among two persistent carriers were detected. Out of 88 interns who had normal flora, 84 (95.5%) retained it after the surgery posting. Among the 14 MRSA strains isolated in the study, 12 (85.7%) were resistant to Ciprofloxacin, 7 (50%) were resistant to Erythromycin, and 4 (28.6%) were resistant to Clindamycin. Almost half of the interns, who responded to a questionnaire, were unaware of the mode of spread of MRSA and measures to prevent it. Conclusions: Nineteen (14.6%) interns in our study were intermittent carriers of S. aureus. Interns need to be educated on the spread and prevention of Staphylococcal infections.