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Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
12:18

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Published on: February 9, 2011

Distribution of bacterial contamination in a teaching hospital in Tehran - a special focus on Staphylococcus aureus

Mehdi Mirzaii1, Mohammad Emaneini, Parviz Maleknejad

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Acta Microbiologica Et Immunologica Hungarica
|April 19, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Intensive care unit (ICU) environments harbor significant bacterial contamination, particularly Staphylococcus aureus on surfaces like ventilators. Enhanced disinfection protocols are crucial to prevent patient and staff infection transmission.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Hospital Infection Control
  • Environmental Hygiene

Background:

  • Bacterial transmission cycles involve patients, staff, and the hospital environment.
  • Intensive care units (ICUs) pose higher infection risks due to patient vulnerability and unstable conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine bacterial prevalence in ICU air and on surfaces.
  • To compare microbial levels against established standards.
  • To identify high-risk contamination sites for Staphylococcus aureus.

Main Methods:

  • Weekly environmental surveillance over six months in four teaching hospital ICUs.
  • Air sampling and surface swabbing for bacterial analysis.
  • Culturing bacteria on trypticase soy agar and mannitol salt agar (MSA).

Main Results:

  • A total of 725 samples (168 air, 557 surface) were collected.
  • Mean airborne bacteria count was 115.93 ± 48.04 CFU/m³; Gram-positive cocci dominated (84.2%).
  • Mean airborne Staphylococcus aureus was 12.10 ± 8.11 CFU/m³, with highest contamination on ventilators and bed ledges.

Conclusions:

  • ICU environments show significant bacterial presence, including S. aureus.
  • Effective disinfection and rotation of cleaning agents are vital.
  • Preventing airborne and surface transmission of S. aureus requires improved environmental hygiene practices.

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