Nasal Carriage of Staphylococcus aureus in Health Care Workers: A Matter of Concern

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a problem within healthcare organizations and in the community. The anterior nares of humans are the ecological niches of Staphylococcus aureus and carriage of Staphylococcus aureus appears to play a key role in the epidemiology and pathogenesis of infection. Asymptomatically colonised patients and healthcare workers are the major source of MRSA in the hospital environment. The topical treatment of nose to eliminate nasal carriage of staphylococcus, also leads to disappearance of the organism from other areas of the body like groin, axilla, umbilicus, and hands. The present study was conducted to determine the rate of nasal carriage of MRSA among the clinical staff and health care workers at our hospital. Two swabs each were taken from anterior nares and cubital fossa from 50 healthcare workers included in this study. The swabs were processed for isolation of Staphylococci and Methicillin resistance was detected by using cefoxitin (30 μg) disc on Mueller Hinton agar with 4% NaCl. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 26 swabs, of which 10 (20%) were MRSA and 16 (32%) were methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). Our study revealed that healthcare workers were the potential colonisers of Staphylococcus aureus including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. These carriers may serve as reservoir and disseminator of MRSA in the hospital. Therefore regular screening of carriers is required for the prevention of nosocomial infection.