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High levels of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus carriage among healthcare workers at a teaching hospital in Addis Ababa Ethiopia: First evidence using mecA detection

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posted on 2023-06-10, 04:06 authored by Kassu Desta, Eleni Aklillu, Yirgu Gebrehiwot, Fikre Enquselassie, Daire Cantillon, Leena Al-HassanLeena Al-Hassan, James R Price, Melanie NewportMelanie Newport, Gail DaveyGail Davey, Yimtubezenash Woldeamanuel
Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen and causes healthcare and community-acquired infection. Data on the extent of MRSA colonization among health-care workers (HCWs) in sub-Saharan Africa are limited. Hence, we determined the burden of MRSA colonisation among HCWs and administrative staff in Tikur Anbessa Specialised Hospital (TASH), College of Health Sciences (CHS), Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. Methods: Using a cross-sectional study design, participants were screened for MRSA colonisation between June 2018 and August 2019 using nasal swabs. The swabs were analysed using standard laboratory methods including antibiotic resistance gene, mecA. Anonymised sociodemographic data were collected by pretested questionnaires to evaluate HCWs factors associated with MRSA carriage. Results: A total of 588 HCWs and 468 administrative staff were screened for MRSA. Women were over-represented. Overall, 49.1% (289/588) of HCWs were nurses and 25% (117/468) of the administrative staff were cleaners or laundry workers. Overall, 138 S. aureus isolates were retrieved from the nasal swabs of both groups (16.3%, 96/588 from HCWs). The burden of MRSA colonisation was 4.8% (28/580, 95% CI: 3.1–6.5%) among HCWs compared to 0.2%(1/468, 95% CI: 0.18–0.6%) of administrative staff (p value <0.05). The majority of S. aureus and all MRSA isolates were resistant to penicillin. Isolates from HCWs were more resistant to tested antibiotics than administrative staff (P-value <0.05). Conclusion: This is the first report in Ethiopia on MRSA colonization using mecA and revealed that; (i) overall carriage rates of MRSA in HCWs are comparable with observations reported in some other countries and (ii) HCWs exhibit a higher burden of MRSA carriage than administrative staff. Our data support strategic screening of MRSA and antimicrobial stewardship for better intervention measures.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Infection and Drug Resistance

ISSN

1178-6973

Publisher

Dove Medical Press

Volume

15

Page range

3135-3147

Department affiliated with

  • Global Health and Infection Publications

Research groups affiliated with

  • Brighton and Sussex Centre for Global Health Research Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2022-06-28

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2022-06-28

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2022-06-28

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