Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus tracking spread among health-care workers and hospitalized patients in critical wards at a university hospital, Tehran, Iran

Health-care workers may serve as a reservoir for dissemination of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to patients in hospital settings. The present study aimed to screen MRSA in nasal swabs of health-care workers and clinical specimens from patients and investigate the possible relati...

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Main Authors: N. Pourramezan, S. Ohadian Moghadam, M.R. Pourmand
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2019-01-01
Series:New Microbes and New Infections
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2052297518301033
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author N. Pourramezan
S. Ohadian Moghadam
M.R. Pourmand
author_facet N. Pourramezan
S. Ohadian Moghadam
M.R. Pourmand
author_sort N. Pourramezan
collection DOAJ
description Health-care workers may serve as a reservoir for dissemination of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to patients in hospital settings. The present study aimed to screen MRSA in nasal swabs of health-care workers and clinical specimens from patients and investigate the possible relationship between these isolates at a university hospital in Tehran, Iran. Additionally, we aimed to identify potential risk factors for MRSA colonization in health-care workers. Staphylococcus aureus strains were isolated from health-care workers and inpatients who completed a questionnaire on risk factors. Cefoxitin disc diffusion test was also used for detection of MRSA. Moreover, all of the MRSA isolates were subjected to pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Colonization rate of MRSA among health-care workers was 22.5%. Furthermore, out of 24 S. aureus isolates obtained from patients, nine (37.5%) were MRSA. Regarding risk factors, the prevalence of nasal MRSA carriage among hospital personnel who used masks was significantly lower than in those without masks (p 0.007). Using PFGE, 10 clusters and 14 singletons were identified among the MRSA isolates. In this regard, most of the MRSA isolates recovered from health-care carriers and patients in intensive care wards, especially general intensive care units, were grouped in certain clusters, indicating intra-ward transmission of the mentioned isolates in these restricted areas. We concluded that screening and decolonization of carriers, contact precautions, prudent use of antibiotics and implementation of active surveillance are recommended strategies for the prevention and control of MRSA transmission in hospital settings. Keywords: Health-care workers, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, patients, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, risk factors
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spelling doaj.art-d8ad7336608144368d7d8872e86b5ba12022-12-21T17:50:56ZengElsevierNew Microbes and New Infections2052-29752019-01-01272935Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus tracking spread among health-care workers and hospitalized patients in critical wards at a university hospital, Tehran, IranN. Pourramezan0S. Ohadian Moghadam1M.R. Pourmand2Department of Pathobiology, School of Public Health and Urology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranDepartment of Pathobiology, School of Public Health and Urology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Uro-Oncology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranDepartment of Pathobiology, School of Public Health and Urology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Corresponding author: M.R. Pourmand, Department of Pathobiology, School of Public Health and Urology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 100 Poursina Street, Keshavarz Boulevard, Tehran, Iran.Health-care workers may serve as a reservoir for dissemination of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to patients in hospital settings. The present study aimed to screen MRSA in nasal swabs of health-care workers and clinical specimens from patients and investigate the possible relationship between these isolates at a university hospital in Tehran, Iran. Additionally, we aimed to identify potential risk factors for MRSA colonization in health-care workers. Staphylococcus aureus strains were isolated from health-care workers and inpatients who completed a questionnaire on risk factors. Cefoxitin disc diffusion test was also used for detection of MRSA. Moreover, all of the MRSA isolates were subjected to pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Colonization rate of MRSA among health-care workers was 22.5%. Furthermore, out of 24 S. aureus isolates obtained from patients, nine (37.5%) were MRSA. Regarding risk factors, the prevalence of nasal MRSA carriage among hospital personnel who used masks was significantly lower than in those without masks (p 0.007). Using PFGE, 10 clusters and 14 singletons were identified among the MRSA isolates. In this regard, most of the MRSA isolates recovered from health-care carriers and patients in intensive care wards, especially general intensive care units, were grouped in certain clusters, indicating intra-ward transmission of the mentioned isolates in these restricted areas. We concluded that screening and decolonization of carriers, contact precautions, prudent use of antibiotics and implementation of active surveillance are recommended strategies for the prevention and control of MRSA transmission in hospital settings. Keywords: Health-care workers, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, patients, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, risk factorshttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2052297518301033
spellingShingle N. Pourramezan
S. Ohadian Moghadam
M.R. Pourmand
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus tracking spread among health-care workers and hospitalized patients in critical wards at a university hospital, Tehran, Iran
New Microbes and New Infections
title Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus tracking spread among health-care workers and hospitalized patients in critical wards at a university hospital, Tehran, Iran
title_full Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus tracking spread among health-care workers and hospitalized patients in critical wards at a university hospital, Tehran, Iran
title_fullStr Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus tracking spread among health-care workers and hospitalized patients in critical wards at a university hospital, Tehran, Iran
title_full_unstemmed Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus tracking spread among health-care workers and hospitalized patients in critical wards at a university hospital, Tehran, Iran
title_short Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus tracking spread among health-care workers and hospitalized patients in critical wards at a university hospital, Tehran, Iran
title_sort methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus tracking spread among health care workers and hospitalized patients in critical wards at a university hospital tehran iran
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2052297518301033
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AT sohadianmoghadam methicillinresistantstaphylococcusaureustrackingspreadamonghealthcareworkersandhospitalizedpatientsincriticalwardsatauniversityhospitaltehraniran
AT mrpourmand methicillinresistantstaphylococcusaureustrackingspreadamonghealthcareworkersandhospitalizedpatientsincriticalwardsatauniversityhospitaltehraniran