Abstract:

Objective: To investigate the Staphylococcus aureus strains and methicillin resistance rates retrospectively isolated from nose swab samples sent from various clinics to our laboratory during the study period. Materials Method: 3002 nose swab samples were sent to Erzincan Mengücek Gazi Training and Research Hospital Microbiology Laboratory between January 2015 and January 2020. Samples were inoculated in 5% sheep blood and chromogenic MRSA medium. The media were incubated at 35 oC for 24 hours. Colonies compatible with S.aureus in 5% sheep blood medium and forming pink color in MRSA medium were evaluated. Methicillin susceptibilities of isolates identified as S.aureus by conventional methods and subsequently by MALDI - TOF MS system were determined by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method in Mueller Hinton agar. Sensitivity results were interpreted according to EUCAST guidelines. Results: S.aureus was isolated in 536 (17.8%) of the samples. 491 (91.6 %) of the patients with reproduction were male and 45 (8.4%) were female. 504 (94 %) of the 536 isolated S.aureus strains were found to be methicillin-sensitive S.aureus (MSSA) and 32 (6 %) were methicillin-resistant S.aureus (MRSA). 31 of the MRSA isolated patients were male and the mean age was 26.3. The lowest number of MRSA cases was determined in 2015 and the highest in 2019. All MRSA isolates were isolated from outpatients. Conclusion: In our study, the nasal S.aureus carrier rate was 17.8 %, and nasal MRSA carrier rate was 6%. Investigation of the nasal presence of S. aureus, an important pathogen for hospital and community-acquired infections, and determination of antibiotic sensitivity will be effective in preventing these infections. Especially for the prevention and control of MRSA transmission; It is necessary to reduce uncontrolled and excessive use of antibiotics, to comply with hand hygiene rules, to screen the carriers periodically and to pay attention to contact measures

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