ABSTRACT

       Background and Objective: Staphylococcus aureus is the most common and important infectious agent. This bacterium can enter the bloodstream and cause some complications in the intensive care unit (ICU).This organism can frequently be found in the nose and transmitted by the carriers. This study aimed to determine the efficiency of eradicating S. aureus from the nose of ICU personnel in reducing the risk of S. aureus infections in the Panje Azar Hospital in Gorgan, Iran.

        Methods: Sampling was done using sterile swabs collected from the anterior nasal passages.All samples containing Gram-positive cocci were sent to the laboratory of Faculty of Medicine for identification and evaluation of methicillin resistance. All S. aureus nasal carriers were treated with mupirocin ointment b.d for 5 days. The Samples were cultured again after five weeks to evaluate the eradication of S. auerus from the nose of subjects.

       Results: Overall, seven ICU personnel (11.7%) were S. aureus carriers. Two isolates (3.3%) were found as methicillin resistant using both methods of disc diffusion and PCR. The frequency distribution of positive cases indicated a significant difference in terms of work experience (P = 0.012).

        Conclusion: The findings show that treatment of carriers with 2% mupirocin topical ointment eradicates S. aureus from the nose. No S. aureus isolates was found in reculture of nasal samples. Treatment of healthy carriers can significantly reduce the risk of infections caused by the bacterium in the ICU.

  

          Background and Objectives: Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of nosocomial infections. The ability of S. aureus to form biofilm and acquire antimicrobial resistance has made this organism a major health problem. In this study, we investigate the biofilm-forming ability of S. aureus isolates from clinical samples.
          Methods: Sixty S. aureus isolates from clinical specimens were collected from the 5th Azar Hospital of Gorgan (Iran) in 2018. The isolates were identified using conventional methods including Gram staining and biochemical tests (catalase and coagulase). Biofilm formation by S. aureus isolates was evaluated using a microplate-based method.
          Results: Of 60 S. aureus isolates, 47 (78.3%) strains were identified as biofilm-forming and 13 (21.7%) strains were non-biofilm-forming.
          Conclusion: The high prevalence of biofilm-producing S. aureus isolates in the 5^th Azar hospital of Gorgan could pose a major health challenge with serious consequences for hospitalized patients. Therefore, it is crucial to disinfect and sterilize hospital surfaces and equipment effectively to minimize the risk of contamination and spread of bacteria in the hospital settings.
          Keywords: Biofilms, Staphylococcus aureus, sample.