Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a major health-care issue today in community hospitals, long-term care facilities, and tertiary care hospitals. Colonization and infection by Staphylococcus aureus are known to be significantly associated with infection among hospitalized patients. MRSA nasal carriage among hospital patients on admission will increase the likelihood of MRSA infection during the same episode of hospitalization.
Objectives: The study was carried out to know the prevalence of MRSA and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCoNS) colonization from nasal swabs, gender-wise, age-wise, and stay-wise distribution of MRSA and MRCoNS.
Materials and Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out from the period of December 2013 to April 2014. Nasal swabs were collected from 229 patients, who were admitted for more than 48 h admission in the hospital from various clinical departments. Informed consent was obtained from the patients or their relatives.
Results: Of 229 patients, S. aureus was isolated in 63 (27.51%) and coagulase-negative S. aureus in 91 (39.74%). The prevalence of MRSA was 9.17% and MRCoNS - 11.79%. Colonization was seen more in males. Higher prevalence of MRSA was seen in 60 years. Higher prevalence of MRSA was seen in the 1st week of admission and higher prevalence of MRCoNS was noted from the 2nd week onward.
Conclusion: We observed higher prevalence of MRSA in the 1st week of admission and from the 2nd week onward MRCoNS among the hospitalized patients. The higher prevalence of MRSA was also seen in the under-fives followed by geriatric age group who are vulnerable. Hence, we strongly advised that every patient should be screened for MRSA at the time of admission to reduce the burden of MRSA infection during hospitalization.
Key words: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus; Hospitalized Patients; Nasal Swabs
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