Prevalence and determinants of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus carrier among staff of a tertiary eye hospital in Saudi Arabia

• Published in: Oman journal of ophthalmology Vol. 14; no. 2; pp. 88 - 93
• Main Authors: Khan, Ruhi, Ahmed, Anwar, Sapitan, Anita, Maktabi, Azza, Al-Subaie, Sultan, Khandekar, Rajiv
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01-05-2021; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer - Medknow; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: carrier; Drug resistance in microorganisms; hospital infection; Medical personnel; Medical research; Medicine, Experimental; Methicillin; methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus; methicillin-sensitive staphylococcus aureus; Mupirocin; Original; Penicillin; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus aureus infections; Staphylococcus infections; Saudi Arabia; India; methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Carrier; hospital infection; methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus
• ISSN: 0974-620X; 0974-7842
• DOI: 10.4103/ojo.ojo_98_21

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) carriers among staff of a tertiary eye hospital in Saudi Arabia.
METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in 2019. Nasal and axillary swabs of health-care staff were used to determine carriers of MRSA. Bacteria were identified by culture and sensitivity tests. These isolates were grouped as antibiotic resistant, sensitive, and others not in the S. aureus group. Demographics and other determinants were associated with carrier status.
RESULTS: We evaluated the carrier status of 430 staff. There were 110 (24.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 21.5, 29.7) S. aureus-positive staff, 21 (11.7%; 95% CI: 11.7, 26.4) of who carried the MRSA strain. Carrier status was significantly higher among physicians (31%) compared to nurses (22.5%) and other staff (5.7%) (P < 0.001). MRSA carrier status was significantly associated with >5 years of employment at the eye hospital (P = 0.02). MRSA was significantly associated with staff who were of Indian nationality (75%) compared to other nationalities (P = 0.04) and those who were at the hospital for <5-year stay compared more than 5 years at the hospital (P = 0.001). All carriers responded to decolonization treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of MRSA and relatively easy treat MRSA carriers points at the need for universal screening for MRSA carriers among eye health staff.