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PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of nasal carriage of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and its Mupirocin resistance in health care providers (HCPs). Sterile swabs from the anterior nares of the HCPs were collected and then transported to the Microbiology laboratory for processing. The Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) isolates were tested for Methicillin resistance on Mueller Hinton agar using Cefoxitin disc (30ug) by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. A zone of ≤ 21mm was considered as MRSA. All the MRSA isolates were tested for Mupirocin resistance by Epsilometer test (E-test) using Mupirocin E-strips. A total of 186 swabs from the anterior nares were collected from HCPs, out of which 18 were positive for S. aureus. Among the 18 isolates 10 were Methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and 8 were MRSA. The nursing staff had the highest prevalence of MRSA (50%). None of the staff from the critical areas or treating doctors were MRSA colonisers. All the MRSA isolates were Mupirocin sensitive. The repeat swabs taken from MRSA positive group after 1 week of Mupirocin therapy were all negative for S. aureus. The HCPs with nasal colonisation of MRSA are potential source for health care associated infections. Mupirocin is used currently as a decolonising agent for MRSA. Therefore monitoring the emergence of Mupirocin resistance as well as ongoing training classes on infection control practices like hand hygiene and standard precautions are mandatory for prevention and control of infections.