Nasal Carriage of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Risk Factors Amongst Inpatients, Outpatients and Hospital Personnel

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the ratio of nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the risk factors among 1500 subjects including 689 hospital staff, 609 inpatients, and 202 outpatients in Ankara Training and Research Hospital. Materials and Methods: Nasal swabs were obtained from hospital staff, inpatients and outpatients, which were then inoculated-into mannitol-salt agar, oxacillin resistance screening agar base (ORSAB), and chromogenic MRSA agar media, respectively. Methicillin resistance was confirmed with cefoxitin disk by the disk-diffusion test. In statistical analyses, the Chi-square and the Kruskal Wall is tests were used, considering p< 0.05 value statistically significant. Results: MRSA nasal carriage rate was determined 3.03%, 9.03% and 3.96% in hospital staff, inpatients and outpatients, respectively. The rate of nasal carriage of MRSA amongst doctors, nurses and auxiliary health personnel was 1.36%, 1.735% and 5.06% respectively. Conclusion: Hospital staff, especially auxiliary health personnel, should be trained on hospital infections, routes of transmission, and protective measures. In addition, in clinics where MRSA infections and colonization is common, hospital staff and inpatients should be screened for MRSA nasal carriage at certain intervals and patients to be admitted to the intensive care and surgical units should undergo screening for MRSA nasal carriage before admission.