Screening of MRSA in Health Care Professionals in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Dr. Haafiza Begum, Dr. Krishna S, Dr. Sangeetha C. Patil, Dr. Pushpalatha H

Abstract: Background: Staphylococcus aureus, particularly Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), commonly colonizes the anterior nares in humans. A growing concern is the development of resistance, which increases the risk of hospital outbreaks through hand-to-nose or hand-to-hand transmission. This study aimed to assess MRSA colonization in the nasal and interdigital web spaces of healthcare staff and determine its sensitivity to Mupirocin, a common decolonization agent. Materials and Methods: A total of 540 healthcare personnel from various clinical departments were screened over six months for MRSA colonization in the anterior nares and hand web spaces. Colonization was assessed using Cefoxitin 30mcg discs and Mupirocin 5mcg discs via the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Results were interpreted using CLSI guidelines, and data analysis was performed using Microsoft Office Excel. Results: The prevalence of MRSA nasal colonization was 9.25%, while hand colonization was 0.37%. Conclusion: The high rate of nasal MRSA colonization among healthcare workers is concerning and highlights the need for routine screening and decolonization therapy. Although hand colonization remains low, the potential for transmission cannot be dismissed. Most MRSA isolates were susceptible to Mupirocin, indicating its effectiveness for decolonization.

Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus, nasal and hand colonization, healthcare professionals, MRSA, Mupirocin