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Colonization of nursing professionals by Staphylococcus aureus
Josely Pinto de Moura1, Fabiana Cristina Pimenta, Miyeko Hayashida
1Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brazil. jpmfonseca@uol.com.br
Revista Latino-Americana De Enfermagem
|May 18, 2011
Summary
This study found Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA), in the saliva of nursing staff at a São Paulo hospital. Nurses and technicians showed higher susceptibility to MRSA colonization.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Hospital Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Staphylococcus aureus is a common pathogen.
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a significant public health threat.
- Understanding carriage in healthcare workers is crucial for infection control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA in the saliva of nursing staff.
- To identify carrier types (transient vs. persistent) and antimicrobial resistance patterns.
- To pinpoint healthcare professional categories most affected by MRSA.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 351 nursing professionals from a teaching hospital.
- Collection of three saliva samples per individual over two months.
- Microbiological culture and identification of Staphylococcus aureus, including MRSA, with antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
Main Results:
- Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 17.7% of cultures, with a 41.0% professional colonization rate.
- MRSA prevalence was 7.1% among colonized professionals.
- Nurses and nursing technicians were identified as the most susceptible categories to MRSA.
Conclusions:
- The nursing team, particularly nurses and technicians, can be reservoirs for Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA.
- High rates of mupirocin resistance were observed in both MRSA and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA).
- Further research and targeted interventions are necessary to mitigate MRSA transmission within healthcare settings.
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