Preoperative prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization in patients undergoing intranasal surgery.
BACKGROUND
The goal of this study was to determine the rates of carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among patients undergoing intranasal surgery.


METHODS
One hundred and sixty five patients undergoing inpatient and outpatient rhinologic surgery over a six-month period were enrolled in the study. Patients completed a short questionnaire prior to surgery. Culture swabs of the anterior nares and nasal vestibule were sent to the microbiology lab for evaluation for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Cultures were grown on a MRSA-specific agar plate and were considered final after 48 hours of incubation. The primary endpoint was a positive MRSA culture.


RESULTS
Of the one hundred fifty seven patients with nasal cultures taken, two had positive cultures for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Of those with positive cultures, both had a history of prior infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.


CONCLUSIONS
While antibiotic usage among the study group is far higher than the national average, the rates of nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus mirrors that described in other studies for the general population. The authors conclude that methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus does not represent a significant source of infection among those undergoing intranasal surgery.
Nicholas
Brian D
BD
Department of Otolaryngology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. bnicholas44@gmail.com
Bhargave
Geeta
G
Hatipoglu
Ayse
A
Heffelfinger
Ryan
R
Rosen
Marc
M
Pribitkin
Edmund A
EA
D000038:Abscess / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000254:growth & development*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D015995:Prevalence; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*