Rates of Staphylococcus Aureus and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Nasal Carriage Infections among Nursing Students

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is considered one of the most frequently occurring community- and hospi-tal-associated pathogens. Infectious diseases caused by Staphylococcus aureus are in various forms, ranging from mild skin infection, endocarditis, to fulminant septicemia. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) nasal carriage rates among nursing students. The relevant data were collected using a questionnaire, and microbial samples were collected from the nasal cavities of 215 nursing students. From the collected specimens, strains of Staphylococcus aureus were isolated and subjected to antibiotic susceptibility tests. Of 215 students, 62 (28.8%) were nasal carriers of Staphylococcus aureus, and three students (1.4%) were nasal carriers of MRSA. None of the three students with MRSA had any history of hospitalization over the past 12 months and had not provided nursing care for MRSA patients. However, two students among these three had received antibiotics. All MRSA isolated from these three students were mupirocin-sensitive. According to the results, the rates of MRSA nasal carriage among the nursing students were lower than those of patients or other healthcare workers. Thus, routine screening for nasal MRSA culturing is not recommended in students who practice in the clinic. However, students should be educated about infection control in order to prevent practice-related MRSA nasal.