Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  1997 Sep;40(9):1250-1255.

Possibility of Reciprocal Infections of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus between Medical Personnel and Patients after Performing Middle Ear Surgery

• Suh HK
• Song JS
• Han SH
• Yoo KM
• Lim HH
• Whang SJ
• Cheong HJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The cases of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) infection after middle ear surgery, most of which are thought to be hospital acquired infection, are increasing recently in our hospital. MRSA infection is apt to be long lasting and to bring many complications because MRSA is resistant to aminoglycosides and cephalosporin as well as methicillin. There are many reports that medical personnel have a role to transmit that organisms to other patients.
OBJECTIVES
To find and eradicate infection source and transmission route are both essential because medical personnel who contact MRSA infected patients can be a continuing transmission route.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Bacterial cultures from the noses and hands of medical personnel working in the department of Otolaryngology of Korea University Hospital were done and ribotyping through Southern blot technique was used to compare and prove an identical strain of MRSA organism between medical personnel and patients.
RESULTS
As a result of ribotyping with EcoRI and HindIII, one distinct subtype(type I) was identified to be shared between medical personnel and patients. Among 30 medical personnel, 10 were carriers of MRSA. Seven MRSA isolates from these 10 medical carriers and 18 from 30 isolates of otorrhea shared the same type I ribotype.
CONCLUSION
This finding reveals that MRSA transmission could occur between medical personnel and patients. Medical personnel should be aware of their possible role as a relay-stay of transmission of pathogenic organisms and should give efforts to prevent it.

Keyword

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA); Ribotyping; EcoRI; HindIII; Reciprocal infection

MeSH Terms

Aminoglycosides
Blotting, Southern
Ear, Middle*
Hand
Humans
Korea
Methicillin
Methicillin Resistance*
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus*
Nose
Otolaryngology
Ribotyping
Staphylococcus
Aminoglycosides
Methicillin