Silent Passengers: MRSA Nasal Carriage in High-Risk Surgical Patients – Insights from a Six-Month Prospective Study
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Sheetal Goenka
,
Wanshisha Daphi Wanswett
,
Shivani Tyagi
,
Poonam Loomba
,
Manisha Jain
,
Abha Sharma
Abstract
Background: Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus, particularly methicillin-resistant strains, poses significant risks for healthcare-associated infections in surgical wards. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA nasal carriage among patients in cardiothoracic and neurosurgery units.
Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from January to July 2025 in cardiothoracic and neurosurgery wards of a tertiary care hospital. Nasal swab samples were collected from 100 patients and processed for bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing using standard microbiological methods.
Results: Among 100 nasal swab samples, 36 (36%) yielded Staphylococcus aureus growth, while 64 (64%) showed coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) or gram-negative bacteria. Of the 36 S. aureus isolates, antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed varying resistance patterns, with implications for infection control protocols in surgical settings.
Conclusion: The study provides baseline data on S. aureus nasal carriage rates in high-risk surgical wards, emphasizing the need for targeted screening and decolonization protocols to prevent healthcare-associated infections.
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| Issue | Vol 13 No 4 (2025) | |
| Section | Short Communications | |
| Keywords | ||
| Cardiothoracic surgery healthcare-associated infections MRSA Nasal carriage Neurosurgery. | ||
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