Özet:

This study aims to investigate nasal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage in healthcare workers. For the study, nasal swab samples were taken from healthcare workers working in various clinics of a training and research hospital (n=414). Samples from healthcare workers were inoculated on 5% sheep blood agar with a reduction method, and gram staining was performed on suspected colonies. A plasma coagulase test was performed to determine S. aureus strains, and methicillin resistance was determined by the agar screening method. Chromosomal cassette types (SCCmec gene complex) in methicillin-resistant strains were explored with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. Besides, the mecA gene was analyzed by PCR method in these isolates for verification. Continuous variables were presented as mean±standard deviation and categorical variables as numbers and percentages. Chi-square analysis was used to examine the differences between categorical variables. In all analyzes, p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. S. Aureus was isolated in 34 (8.2%) of the nasal swab samples of 414 healthcare workers, and MRSA was isolated in 11 (32.3%) of them. 7 (63.7%) of the MRSA strain were the type IV, and 1 (9.1%) was the type I. Although the other 3 (27.2%) had the mecA gene-positive, the MRSA strain could not be classified among the existing SCCmec types. The study revealed that the carriage ratio of MRSA in our hospital health workers is similar to general data in Turkey. Since SCCmec type IV is predominantly detected in the isolates, it has been concluded that MRSA carriage is mostly community-acquired in our hospital, but the detection of SCCmec type I in one employee also indicates the possibility of the presence of hospital-acquired strains, and their spread. In the light of these data, the identification, training and control of carrier personnel and their employment in units requiring less patient contact will be beneficial approaches to consider.

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