Surveillance of health-care workers for nasal carriage to detect multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus spp. in a tertiary care center: An observational study

Abstract

Background: Healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) has become a potential risk worldwide. Staphylococcus spp., especially methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the frequent causes of HCAIs. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS), previously considered as contaminants, now emerged as opportunist nosocomial pathogens for causing HCAIs such as bloodstream infections. Health-care workers (HCWs) play a role in colonizing and transmit microorganism to patient causing HCAIs. The purpose of this study was for surveillance of MRSA and MR-CoNS as nasal colonizer among HCWs and its antimicrobial susceptibility pattern. Materials and Methods: Nasal swabs were collected from 214 HCWs such as doctor, nurse, sweepers, ward boy, and operation theatre (OT) assistant working in Intensive Care Unit and OT and ward. Methicillin resistance among the Staphylococcus spp. isolates were detected using cefoxitin 30 μg disc. Antimicrobial susceptibility profile of the Staphylococcus spp. isolates were also determined for several other antibiotics. Results: Of 214 nasal swabs collected from HCWs, 97.6% of doctors, 93.2% of nurses, and 94.6% of sweepers showed growth of Staphylococcus spp. MRSA was 13%, 6.7%, and 14.2% in samples obtained from anterior nares of doctors, nurses, and sweepers, respectively. MR-CoNS were 41.6%, 32.4%, and 32.1% in samples obtained from anterior nares of doctors, nurses, and sweepers, respectively. Conclusion: Multidrug-resistance Staphylococcus spp. carriage is very high among HCWs in our tertiary care center. Our study created awareness among HCWs by educating them about nasal carriage of MDR organisms.