Prevalence and determinants of methicillin-resistant aureus and methicillin-sensitive aureus carrier among staff of a tertiary eye hospital in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of methicillin-sensitive (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant (MRSA) carriers among staff of a tertiary eye hospital in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

This retrospective study was conducted in 2019. Nasal and axillary swabs of health-care staff were used to determine carriers of MRSA. Bacteria were identified by culture and sensitivity tests. These isolates were grouped as antibiotic resistant, sensitive, and others not in the group. Demographics and other determinants were associated with carrier status.

RESULTS

We evaluated the carrier status of 430 staff. There were 110 (24.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 21.5, 29.7) -positive staff, 21 (11.7%; 95% CI: 11.7, 26.4) of who carried the MRSA strain. Carrier status was significantly higher among physicians (31%) compared to nurses (22.5%) and other staff (5.7%) ( < 0.001). MRSA carrier status was significantly associated with >5 years of employment at the eye hospital ( = 0.02). MRSA was significantly associated with staff who were of Indian nationality (75%) compared to other nationalities ( = 0.04) and those who were at the hospital for <5-year stay compared more than 5 years at the hospital ( = 0.001). All carriers responded to decolonization treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The high prevalence of MRSA and relatively easy treat MRSA carriers points at the need for universal screening for MRSA carriers among eye health staff.