Prevalence of spp. nasal colonization among doctors of podiatric medicine and associated risk factors in Spain.

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of methicillin-susceptible and -resistant (MSSA and MRSA) and methicillin-resistant (MRSE) nasopharyngeal carriage among Doctors of Podiatric Medicine (Podiatrists) and to determine the potential risk factors.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out in 2016-2017 among 239 podiatrists in Spain. The presence of MSSA, MRSA, and MRSE was determined by microbiological analysis of nasal exudate and antimicrobial susceptibility was determined. Each podiatrist completed a questionnaire. The questionnaire comprised various parameters such as sex, age, podiatry experience duration, underlying diseases, prior antibiotic treatment, hospitalization during the last year, and use of a protective mask, an aspiration system, or gloves.

RESULTS

The prevalence of MSSA, MRSA, and MRSE was 23.0%, 1.3%, and 23.8%, respectively. The MSSA prevalence was higher among podiatrists who did not use an aspiration system (32.3%) compared to those who did (19.3%;  = 0.0305), and among podiatrists with respiratory diseases (36.8%) compared to those without (20.8%;  = 0.0272). The MRSE prevalence was higher among men (33.7%) compared to women (8.6%;  = 0.0089), podiatrists aged ≥50 (38.5%) compared to ≤35 (17.8%;  = 0.0101), and podiatrists with ≥15 (39.3%) compared to ≤5 years of podiatry experience (12.5%;  = 0.0015). Among the strains, 84.5% were resistant to penicillin, 22.4% to erythromycin, 20.7% to clindamycin, and 12.7% to mupirocin. The MRSE strains were resistant to penicillin (93.0%), erythromycin (78.9%), and mupirocin (73.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of and nasal carriage is low among Spanish podiatrists compared to other health professionals.