Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization among healthcare workers in Oman

Authors

  • Loay Al Wahaibi Department of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
  • Rajaa Al Sudairi Department of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
  • Abdullah Balkhair Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Unit, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman
  • Huda Al-Awaisi Department of Nursing, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman
  • Mohamed Mabruk Department of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.14047

Keywords:

Prevalence, associated risk factors, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA colonization, healthcare workers, Oman

Abstract

Introduction: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a S. aureus strain characterized by resistance to cloxacillin. Healthcare workers (HCWs), are recognized for their heightened risk for MRSA acquisition and possibly for MRSA nosocomial transmission. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence and the associated risk factors of MRSA colonization among healthcare workers at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) in Oman.

Methodology: A total of 200 nasal swab samples were collected from the healthcare workers at SQUH during the period October 2nd 2018 to January 7th 2019. All nasal swab samples were examined microbiologically for the presence of MRSA using the standard method and the results were confirmed by detection of the mecA product (PBP2a). Data on associated risk factors for MRSA colonization was collected and analyzed.

Results: Forty-one of the 200 screened healthcare workers (20.5%) were found to have nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus of which 63.4% were Methicillin Sensitive and 36.6% were Methicillin-Resistant (MRSA). Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was isolated from fifteen of the 200 screened healthcare workers giving a prevalence rate of nasal colonization with MRSA of 7.5%. We found no statistical association between healthcare worker MRSA nasal colonization and age, gender, HCWs specialty, hand hygiene practices, skin condition, previous MRSA infection, and previous exposure to antibiotics.

Conclusions: Identification of the prevalence and the associated risk factors of MRSA colonization in healthcare workers mandates continuous surveillance and the implementation of all possible preventive measures to reduce re-occurrences.

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Published

2021-10-31

How to Cite

1.
Al Wahaibi L, Al Sudairi R, Balkhair A, Al-Awaisi H, Mabruk M (2021) Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization among healthcare workers in Oman. J Infect Dev Ctries 15:1426–1435. doi: 10.3855/jidc.14047

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 10: October 2021

Section

Original Articles

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