Detection of Mrsa Nasal Carriage in Hospital Population Using Chromagar

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a human pathogen that is capable of causing infections of skin and soft tissue, surgical site, respiratory and urinary tract that may results into severe morbidity and mortality [1,2]. It is resistant to all β lactam and other antibiotics like aminoglycosides, tetracycline, macrolides etc [3]. The most important reservoir for its spread are symptomatic/asymptomatic patients and healthcare workers that carry MRSA in their anterior nares [4,5]. Asymptomatic colonization with it leads to high risk of its subsequent infection not only for carrier but to other patients as well [6]. Worldwide, nasal carriage is recommended for screening of MRSA for its appropriate antibiotic selection and timely treatment of asymptomatic carriers [7]. In Pakistan, a study was done in 2015 in Abbottabad in which MRSA was found to be 70.8% in the total samples [8]. Screening for MRSA is done employing various methods including enriched media, differential solid media and broth culture enhancement media.