Colonisation of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus among health care workers in a tertiary care hospital of Delhi
Goyal, R.; Das, S.; Mathur, M.
Indian Journal of Medical Sciences 56(7): 321-324
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5359 PMID: 12645167 Document Number: 550324
Methicillin resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus have been responsible for many nosocominl epidemics. Colonised employees of hospital such as asymptomatic nasal and hand carriers act as reservoirs for the spread of this organism within hospital. During a period of three months 150 HCW were screened for nasal and hand colonisation by MRSA. 6.6% (10) HCW were colonised by MRSA and 50% of these were carrying MRSA on both hands and anterior nares. 30% (3) of MRSA strains were multidrug resistant and 60% (6) were resistant to ciproflox. Whether the eradication of MRSA carrier state will lead to decreased rate of MRSA infection is yet to be documented.