Abstract

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) often colonize the anterior nares. Nasal carriage thus remains the main source of bacterial dissemination. The prevalence and rate of acquisition of methicillin-resistantS. aureus in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Domat Al-Jandal Hospital were studied over one year in order to estimate the possible risk for those, who are initially free of the organism, of acquiring MRSA infection while maintained in the ICU. Of the 160 patients, 15 (9.4%) were colonized with MRSA in their anterior nares on admission to the ICU. Six of 140 (4.3%) patients were positive for MRSA in their blood cultures, while nine of 60 (15%) had MRSA in their wound cultures (Table 1). Eleven patients (7.1%) were initially negative, but acquired MRSA while they were at the ICU. Antibiotic sensitivity testing identified 30 (18.8%) S. aureus strains to be resistant to oxacillin, while all the strains were susceptible to vancomycin. In conclusion, screening of ICU patients for S. aureus colonization and infection, accompanied by antibiotic sensitivity testing of cultured isolates, is important to understand its epidemiology, and to develop preventive measures and treatment strategies.

 Key words: Methicillin-resistant, Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Intensive care unit (ICU), carriage.