Korean J Nosocomial Infect Control.  2007 Dec;12(2):85-90.

Nasal Carriage of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus among Healthcare Workers and Community Students in 1997 and 2006

• Park BG
• Lee MK

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The anterior nares of the nose is the most frequent carriage site for Staphylococcus aureus. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is the most significant nosocomial pathogen.
METHODS
The prevalence of nasal carriage of S. aureus, antibiograms and prevalence of MRSA were studied among healthy students (HSs) and healthcare workers (HCWs) in 1997 and 2006.
RESULTS
S. aureus was isolated from 11.8% of HSs and 19.3% of HCWs in 1997, and the respective figures in 2006 were 30% and 42.2%. S. aureus nasal carriage rates among HSs and HCWs in 2006 were higher than those in 1997 (P<0.05). The methicillin resistant rates of S. aureus, respectively, were 0% (0/6) and 27.3% (3/11) in 1997, 5.6% (1/18) and 44% (11/25) in 2006. Methicillin resistant rates of S. aureus among HCWs were higher in 2007 than in 1996, but those of community students in 1997 and 2006 were not significantly different from each other (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
The nasal carriage rate of MRSA has significantly increased in HCWs compared to that in the community; thus, MRSA nasal carriage rate should be controlled and kept under constant surveillance.

Keyword

Nasal carriage; MRSA; Staphylococcus aureus; Healthcare workers

MeSH Terms

Delivery of Health Care*
Humans
Methicillin Resistance*
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus*
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
Nose
Prevalence
Staphylococcus aureus