Staphylococcal nasal colonization in Mofid children hospital staff; carrier state and antibiotic susceptibility

Abstract

Background: Staphylococcus aureus (SA) is frequently found on normal human skin and mucous membranes. Methicilline resistance S. aureus (MRSA) strains have spread in many hospital isolates world wide since 1970s. Hospital personnel tend to have higher colonization rates than the general population. Colonized residents and personnel are : sources for dissemination of organism. Materials and methods: For this cross sectional study, Mofid childrens hospital staff were evaluated for staphylococcal nasal colonization. Isolated staphylococci tested for methicilline sensitivity by MIC method and their antibiotic susceptibility was investigated for six antibiotics by Disk diffusion technique. Results: Of 284 tested personnel, 56 (19.7%) revealed to have nasal colonization of whom 23 (8.1%) were methicillin resistant (MRSA). Working in the office (p Conclusion: Hospitals should assess the advantages and disadvantages of routinely culturing personnel, however, in outbreak situation hospital personnel especially older persons may be sources of nosocomial infection.