Prevalence and nosocomial spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a long-term-care facility in Slovenia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence and incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization among residents and healthcare workers (HCWs) of a long-term-care facility (LTCF), to assess possible routes of nosocomial spread, and to determine genetic relatedness of the isolates.


METHODS
A 351-bed community LTCF for the elderly.


METHODS
Study investigators made two visits, approximately 3 months apart, to the facility. Samples for cultures were obtained from 107 residents during the first visit, 91 residents during the second visit, and 38 HCWs.


RESULTS
The prevalence of MRSA colonization among residents was 9.3% during the first visit and 8.8% during the second visit. During the first visit, two HCWs were colonized. During the second visit, no HCWs were colonized. The colonization of HCWs suggested a potential role in the transmission of MRSA. Molecular typing showed that two of three roommates in one room had the same strain, whereas two in another room differed from one another. All isolates, except one, belonged to two related clonal groups. It seems that the clonal group to which most isolates belonged had the greatest potential for spreading among both residents and HCWs.


CONCLUSIONS
Similar prevalence rates of MRSA colonization have been found in other European countries, but such studies have usually involved residents with better functional status than that of the participants in this study. Nosocomial spread of MRSA occurred in the facility examined, but not frequently. More attention should be focused on the hand hygiene of HCWs.
Cretnik
Tjasa Zohar
TZ
Microbiology Department, Public Health Institute Celje, Celje, Slovenia.
Vovko
Petra
P
Retelj
Matjaz
M
Jutersek
Borut
B
Harlander
Tatjana
T
Kolman
Jana
J
Gubina
Marija
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000488:Allied Health Personnel; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D005260:Female; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D015995:Prevalence; D017524:Slovenia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification