Screening of Health Care Workers For Nasal And Hand Carriage of Multi–Drug Resistant Organisms in a Teaching Hospital in Rural Haryana, India

Dr. Megha Maheshwari; L. Sumitra Devi; Dr. Priti Agarwal; Dr. Vijay Laxmi Malhotra

Volume : III, Issue : XI, November - 2014

Screening of Health Care Workers For Nasal And Hand Carriage of Multi–Drug Resistant Organisms in a Teaching Hospital in Rural Haryana, India

Dr. Megha Maheshwari, L. Sumitra Devi, Dr. Priti Agarwal, Dr. Vijay Laxmi Malhotra

Abstract :

Infection with multi–drug–resistant bacteria is a common clinical problem in India. Asymptomatically colonized patients and health care workers (HCWs) are the major sources of these multi–drug–resistant organisms in the hospital environment with HCWs being more commonly associated with transmission of these organisms between patients. A prospective study was done to determine the prevalence of bacterial colonization among HCWs. Anterior nasal and skin swabs were collected from 70 HCWs using pre–moistened sterile cotton wool swabs. Samples were cultured on blood agar and MacConkey agar. The plates were incubated at 37�C for 24–48 hours. Identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done using standard bacteriological methods. Of the 70 healthcare workers, 13 (18.6%) carried Staphylococcus aureus, of which 6 were MRSA and 15 (21.4%) carried ESBL producing Gram negative bacteria. Both MRSA and ESBL were more frequently isolated from nurses and OT technicians than doctors and laboratory technicians.