NASAL CARRIAGE AND DRUG SENSITIVITY OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS AMONG HEALTH WORKERS OF JIMMA UNIVERSITY SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL, SOUTHWESTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of community and hospital acquired infections. Additionally emergence of drug resistant strains especially metacillin resistant staphylococcus aureus is a serious problem in hospital environments. The objective of the study was to determine the nasal carriage and antimicrobial sensitivity patterns of S. aureus isolates among Jimma University Specialized Hospital health workers. METHOD: A cross sectional study was conducted from February 20 - March 27, 2005. Nasal swabs were collected from 82 subjects using sterile cotton swabs and cultured on mannitol salt agar. Sensitivity pattern of isolates were done using eleven antibiotics. RESULT: Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage was observed in 76 (92.7%) of subjects from which 35 (42.5%) of the isolates were S. aureus. The drug sensitivity test against penicillin 35 (100%), tetracycline 25 (71.4%), erythromycin 25 (71.4%), gentamycin 24 (68.6%) and chloramphenicol 20 (57.1%). Resistance to oxacillin/methicillin was observed in 15 (42.8%) of S. aureus isolates. All the 35 isolates were resistant to at least four of the antibiotics used. CONCLUSION: Though the nasal carriage of S. aureus in the health professionals was in the reported range by other studies, increased methicllin resistance Staphylococcus aureus isolates was observed in the study. Furthermore, most of the methicllin resistance Staphylococcus aurous strains were resistant to other beta- lactamse, and were detected from health workers working in the wards indicating the need for instituting strong infection control measures.