Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant enterococcus carriage rates in a neonatal intensive care unit

Abstract

This study was aimed to determine the rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) carriage in a neonatal intensive care unit in a Training and Research Hospital in Ankara, Turkey. A total of 135 newborns were included in the study. Following 5 days stay in intensive care unit, samples were taken from nose and umbilicus for the detection of MRSA and cultivated in mannitol-salt agar and oxacillin-resistance screening agar (ORSAB), respectively. The samples taken from rectum to screen VRE, were placed onto Enterococcosel agar which contained vancomycin and ceftazidime. The confirmation of methicillin resistance in MRSA suspected isolates was performed by oxacillin and cefoxitin disk diffusion tests according to Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Twenty eight (20.7%) of 135 newborns had nasal MRSA carriage, 30 (22.2%) of 135 had umbilical and 10 (7.4%) had both nasal and umbilical MRSA carriage. No rectal VRE carriage was found among the newborns. As a result, we suggest that periodical MRSA and VRE carriage investigation in the patients hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units is of outmost help to control and prevent nosocomial infections.