PREVALENCE OF NASAL CARRIAGE OF MRSA AMONG PATIENTS UNDERGOING HAEMODIALYSIS AND IN HEALTH CARE WORKERS WORKING IN THE HAEMODIALYSIS UNITS

Asymptomatic nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus is a major risk factor for acquiring infection in pa tients undergoing haemodialysis because of their decreased immunity, increased skin colonization by Staphylococci and multiple needle punctures required for dialysis. The present study was done to know the prevalence of nasal carriage of MRSA among patients undergoing dialysis and in HCW’s during the period of October and No vember 2011 at GGH, Vijayawada, India. Sterile swabs were rotated into the anterior nares of patients (50) and HCW’s (25) working in dialysis unit aft er taking informed consent. Swabs were inoculated into Nutrient agar, Blood agar, Mannitol salt agar. Identification of Staphylococcus aureus was done by standard methods. Antimicrobial su sceptibility and Methicillin resistant strains were detected as per the CLSI guidelines. Of the 50 patients and 25 controls, 21 patients and 7 controls have been found to be nasal carriers of Staphylococcus aureus . All the 21 isolates of SA among cases and 4 isolates from controls were resistant to Methicillin.