title: Colonization by methicillin resistant staphylococci of nares and skin in healthcare workers: a pilot study in spinal surgeries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) colonization among healthcare workers (HCWs) may have implications in development of infections and in spreading of resistance. This study aimed to determine the rate of methicillin-resistant staphylococci carriage in HCWs of spinal surgeries in an Italian Orthopaedic Institute.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples from nares, axillae and hands were inoculated onto appropriate media in order to perform colony counts of methicillin-susceptible and resistant S. aureus and CoNS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of S. aureus and CNS was 42.3% and 98%, respectively. Methicillin-resistance was rather infrequent in S. aureus (13.5%) while it was detected in most of CoNS (90.4%). Methicillin resistant S. aureus were prevalently isolated from nares while axillae showed the highest methicillin-resistant CoNS colonization rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A relatively high rate of methicillin resistant staphylococci was found among HCWs in spinal surgeries wards, thus evidencing the need for careful prevention measures and for periodic evaluation of spread among HCWs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Microbiology, IRCCS Galeazzi Orthopaedic Institute, Milan Italy; Laboratory of Microbiology and Technical Sciences for Laboratory Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan Italy. Electronic address: lorenzo.drago@unimi.it.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Drago
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Microbiology, IRCCS Galeazzi Orthopaedic Institute, Milan Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cappelletti
authors.affiliation: 2(nd) Spine Surgery Division, IRCCS Galeazzi Orthopaedic Institute, Milan Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lamartina
authors.affiliation: 4(th) Spine Surgery Division, IRCCS Galeazzi Orthopaedic Institute, Milan Italy.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berjano
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Odontoiatric Sciences, University of Milan, Milan.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mattina
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Microbiology, IRCCS Galeazzi Orthopaedic Institute, Milan Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Vecchi
mesh_terms: D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006268:Health Facilities; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000592:standards*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000382:microbiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: healthcare professionals; methicillin resistant staphylococci; spinal surgeries; staphylococcal colonization