Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most prevalent pathogens in nosocomial infections.We designed this cross-sectional study for evaluation of methicillin and vancomycin resistance in S. aureus strains that have been harbouring in the nasal nars of Shohadaie Ashayers hospital personnel (khorramabad, Iran). Samples were obtained by sterile cotton-wool swab moistenedwith normal saline rotation inside interior nares of 300 personnel and immediately point cultured on a section of mannitol salt agar. Suspected colonies confirmed by biochemical methods. Methicillin and vancomycin resistance of isolated strains was carried out by agar dilution according to recommendations of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Sixty-four (21.33%) out of 300 samples were nasal carriers for S. aureus; 16 (25%) and 4 (6.25%) of the carriers were methicillin resistant S. aureus and vancomycin intermediate S. aureus, respectively. One (0.33%) of the personnel was carrier for a strain that concurrently was methicillin and vancomycin resistant. No correlation was found between carriage with sex, age, ward and length of occupation, and predisposing diseases. Kind of occupation and level of education were significantly related with carrier state. This is the first report of S. aureus resistant strains from lorestan provinces of Iran. Percentage of S. aureus carriage in hospital personnel was consistent with other published reliable documents. Isolation of 4 vancomycin intermediate S. aureus and 1 vancomycin resistant S. aureus strains from studied personnel was the interesting findings of this study. Because of carrying of such resistant strains in hospital personnel and risks of transmission to patients it needs further attention of health officials.

Key words: S. aureus, nosocomial infections, methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), vancomycin resistant S. aureus (VRSA), vancomycin intermediate S. aureus (VISA).

Abbreviation

Abbreviations: MRSA, Methicillin resistant S. aureus; VRSA, vancomycin resistant S. aureus; VISA, vancomycin intermediate S. aureus; CLSI, clinical and laboratory standards institute; BHI, brain heart infusion; HCWs, healthcare workers