Screening for detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Doon Valley Hospitals, Uttarakhand

Present study was conducted to assess the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among patients at various hospitals in Doon Valley, Uttrakhand. A total of 300 nasal swabs (male patients: 177, female patients: 123) were subjected to bacteriological investigation following established protocol. Isolates were verified by mannitol fermentation, Gram staining, DNAse test and coagulase positivity. S aureus was isolated in 111 (37%) participants (M: 37%, F: 36.5%). Out of 111 S. aureus isolates, 38 (34.2%) were methicillin resistant (MRSA). Among them, 25 (38%) were male and 13 (29%) were from female. Highest MRSA colonization rate was found among dialysis ward patients (55.5%), followed by burn ward (32.5%) and general medical ward (22.7%) patients. The study also revealed that administration of recent antibiotic was chief predisposing factor for MRSA colonization. High MRSA carriage rate found in this study indicates demand for standard infection control to curb transmission.