Ziaullah, Mateen Izhar, Amber Malik, Tafazzule Haque Mahmud, Nadir Zafar Khan, Zafar Iqbal, Waqar Ahmad, Azeem Taj.
Prevalence of nasal carriage of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) in hospital personnel.
Proceeding Shaikh Zayed Postgrad Med Inst Jan ;15(1):29-33.

Nasal Carriage of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) appears to have an important implication in the epidemiology and pathogenesis of infection. Recent international reports suggest that Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) may be emerging as an important pathogen in the community. A prevalence survey of nasal carriage of MRSA in 308 hospital personnel was conducted during 1998 at Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore. Microbiological samples in the form of swabs were taken from anterior nares. Information about various concomitant diseases, recent use of antibiotics or systemic steroids was also obtained. Standard techniques were applied for the isolation and identification of SA and MRSA in the laboratory. Out of 308 hospital personnel, including doctors and paramedics, 20.8% were found to have SA and prevalence of nasal colonization of MRSA was 10.7% . There was no difference in prevalence across various occupations. This is in accordance with reports published internationally.

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