European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

NASAL CARRIAGE SCREENING FOR METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS AMONG HEALTH CARE WORKERS AT GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS IN MISURATA, LIBYA

Abdulrahman Abdalla Allabidi*, Noura Alhadi Shaklawoon, Rugaia Rajab Rafieda, Chinnasamy Selvakkumar and Rabia Mohamed Oraet

ABSTRACT

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a well-recognized public health problem throughout the world. The past two decades have witnessed an alarming expansion of staphylococcal disease caused by community-acquired methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. In this study, we investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility of methicillin-resistant Staph. aureus. We screened 178 health care workers at Misurata Government hospitals, Libya. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out by using Kirby–Bauer’s disk diffusion method as per Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Isolates from 38 of the 178 subjects (21%) were confirmed as MRSA by Antimicrobial resistance patterns tested. The results showed that the percentage as follows; ciprofloxacin (63%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (50%), erythromycin (57%), clindamycin (21%), quinuprisin/dalfopristin (16%), vancomycin (9%) and mupirocin (8%). The study’s results shows evidence that the health care workers could serve as MRSA carriers and play an alarming role in the dissemination of MRSA to the public and other workers.

Keywords: .