• Raja Moftah Moman
• Amar Moftah Alsaid
• Abdurrahman Mohamed Furarah

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is among the most common causes of hospital-acquired infections. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is considered a hospital pathogen associated with hospital admission and antibiotic use. Objectives: The present study was conducted to determine the rate of S. aureus and MRSA among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Mesllata and Tarhuna hospitals. Nasopharyngeal swabs were taken to determine the rate of MRSA, estimate the frequency distribution of MRSA carriers among each group of HCWs and characterize the antibiotic resistance profile. Methods: samples collected were 210. HCWs included doctors, nurses, technicians, and pharmacists. Samples were identified by standard methods of culturing, staining, and biochemical testing. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done by the Kirby-Bauer method and confirmed by BD Phoenix IM system ®. The findings were statistically analyzed by chi-square test. Results: Nasal carriages of S. aureus were (15.2%) and among them (12.5%) isolates were MRSA. S. aureus rate was (81.25%) among direct contact HCWs with patients along with MRSA (75%). S. aureus rate was high among nurses followed by doctors. The highest rate of S. aureus carriers by ward showed that 62.5% of respondents of high-risk infection wards; p=0.01. Moreover, 31.3% of respondents were in intermediate-risk infection wards, and 6.3% were respondents in low-risk infection wards. The working period of participants' hours/day (p=0.01) and working years (p=0.02) significantly affected the occurrence of MRSA respectively. Moreover following hygiene protocols significantly (p<0.05) affect MRSA occurrence. All isolates of S .aureus were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, oxacillin, cefoxitin, vancomycin, and clindamycin and were susceptible to rifampin and mupirocin. MRSA isolates were 100% resistant to cefoxitin and ampicillin and sensitive to fusidic acid, tetracyclin, linezolid, and moxifloxacin. Conclusion: The rate of MRSA was low 1.9% as both hospitals followed continuous awareness lectures. This highlights the fact that educating HCWs continuously eliminates MRSA carriage.

MRSA, Staphylococcus aureus, antibiotic resistance, health care workers

"Prevalence of nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among healthcare workers in Tarhuna and Mesllata hospitals", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.10, Issue 8, page no.g455-g462, August-2023, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2308649.pdf

"Prevalence of nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among healthcare workers in Tarhuna and Mesllata hospitals", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.10, Issue 8, page no. ppg455-g462, August-2023, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2308649.pdf