Surveillance of hand hygiene for MRSA carriage among various categories of healthcare workers in critical care units to control nosocomial infections at Govt. Medical College, Kota

Dr. Saurabh Sharma; Dr.Naveen Saxena; Dr. Anita Sharma; Dr. Anita E. Chand

Volume : VIII, Issue : II, February - 2019

Surveillance of hand hygiene for MRSA carriage among various categories of healthcare workers in critical care units to control nosocomial infections at Govt. Medical College, Kota

Dr. Saurabh Sharma, Dr. Naveen Saxena, Dr. Anita Sharma, Dr. Anita E. Chand

Abstract :

INTRODUCTION Poor hand hygiene of health care workers (HCW) is the main route of transmission for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), leading to adverse outcomes for infected patients.Lack of sensitization program on MRSA carriage to HCW is a major factor in nosocomial infection transmission. Surviellence of HCW, working in critical hot spot areas is beneficial in control of nosocomial infections. OBJECTIVE • The present study was undertaken to demonstrate the presence of bacterial flora on the hands of healthcare workers (HCWs) & to establish the carriage rate of MRSA among HCW in critical care units of GMC Kota • To teach them proper hand hygiene technique using alcohol-based hand rub and determine the outcome for reduction of bacteria METHODS Hand impressions of 100 HCW were cultured on blood agar plates before and after proper technique of hand hygiene with alcohol based hand rubs. After processing the isolates were identified as S.aureus. Further categorization of S.aureus into MRSA was done by using cefoxitin disc diffusion method. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 66 out of 100 of HCWs had 100 bacterial colonies or more on both hands before the application of hand rub. After use of alcohol hand rub with a proper hand hygiene technique, percentage reduction was >95% among doctors and medical students, 90-95 % in nurses & technicians , 50- 80 % among housekeeping staff.. Staphylococcus aureus was present on the hands of 20 persons of which 8 were MRSA . CONCLUSIONS Hands appear to be important route in MRSA carriage for nosocomial infections. Proper hand wash techniques ,regular surveillance and time to time sensitization program controls nosocomial infection