Staphylococcus Aureus Nasal Carriage Among Medical Staff In AL-Nasiriyah Teaching Hospital ,Thi-Qar,Iraq.

Dheaa K. AL-Omer; Hameed N.Al-Yassiri

doi:10.28922/qmj.2009.5.8.49-55

Authors

Dheaa K. AL-Omer Dept.of Internal Medicine, Thi-Qar Medical College.
Hameed N.Al-Yassiri Dept.of Microbiology, Thi-Qar health Directorate.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.28922/qmj.2009.5.8.49-55

Keywords:

Staphylococcus aureus, nasal carrier, penicillin resistance, methicillin resistance

Abstract

Background : nasal carrier of Staphylococcus aureus is a common health problem world wide.
Objective: The present study was conducted to assess the epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriers among hospital staff in AN- Nasiriyah teaching Hospital ,Thi-Qar ,Iraq. Patients and methods: Nasal swabs were taken from each of 140 personnel. After culturing on blood agar for overnight, probablestaphylococcal isolates were identified and subjected to tube Coagulase test. After a two-week interval, second nasal swabs were taken from the subjects whose first cultures were positive for S. aureus.
Results: Nasal carriage was defined in 31 (22.14%) personnel with positive culture for both sampling time. 74.19% are penicillin resistant, most of them are methicillin sensitive but 2 cases (1.43%) are thicillin resistant Conclusion: Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage is a common health problem all over the world and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus is an emerging subject even in our community ,which requires further attention and support.