Nasal Carriage Rate and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile of Staphylococcus aureus Among Healthcare Workers and Inpatients at Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kashan, Iran (2023-2024): A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen that affects humans. The objective of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of nasal carriage and antibiotic resistance profiles of isolated S. aureus strains among healthcare workers and patients admitted to Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan, Iran. METHODS: In this study, 165 and 130 nasal swabs were collected from inpatients and staff, respectively, at Shahid Beheshti Hospital from October 2023 to May 2024 in Kashan, Iran. Antibiotic sensitivity was tested using the standard disk diffusion method. The presence of mecA in MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) isolates was confirmed by PCR. RESULTS: The prevalence of S. aureus carriers among healthcare staff and hospitalized patients was 29 (22.3%) and 19 (11.5%), respectively. Among the 48 identified S. aureus carriers, four (13.8%) and one (5.3%) were classified as carriers of MRSA within the staff and inpatient populations, respectively. The antibiotic susceptibility profile showed the highest sensitivity to linezolid and cefoxitin, whereas erythromycin exhibited the lowest sensitivity. The mecA gene was detected in all MRSA isolates. CONCLUSION: The nasal carriage rate of S. aureus among healthcare workers and inpatients in our study was consistent with previous reports. Given the considerable resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin, alongside confirmation of the mecA gene in all MRSA isolates, we recommend implementing routine active surveillance and stringent infection control policies to limit the transmission of these potentially life-threatening strains in hospital settings.