Abstract

Allergic rhinitis is a common condition affecting populations globally. It has been recently suggested to increase the risk of both methicillin resistant and susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, MSSA) nasal carriage. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and antibiogram to MSSA and MRSA among allergic rhinitis patients and healthy individuals, and its effect on disease severity. Nasal swabs were collected from 74 allergic rhinitis patients and 74 healthy individuals. MSSA and MRSA were identified by culture and biochemical methods. Antibiogram was determined by the disc diffusion method. MRSA prevalence was 15% in allergic rhinitis group and 4% among healthy individuals (P = 0.024), however there was no significant difference between MSSA nasal carriage among allergic rhinitis (8.1%) and control group (13.5%) (P = 0.28). The MRSA carriage was also significantly different between mild (0%) and moderate/severe allergic rhinitis (20%) (P = 0.035). MSSA nasal carriage was not significantly different between both groups (P = 0.65). Four multidrug-resistant MRSA isolates from allergic rhinitis patients were detected compared to one isolate from healthy individuals. MRSA nasal carriage was higher among allergic rhinitis compared to controls. It was also higher among moderate/severe cases compared to mild cases. This suggests that allergic rhinitis increases the risk for MRSA nasal carriage. MRSA carriage also increases the severity of the disease. Therefore, decolonization of MRSA might be useful in managing severe cases. 

Key words: Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, allergic rhinitis, antibiotic susceptibility.