Methicillin resistant S. Aureus in autopsy cases

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether hospital stay predisposes to nasal colonisation with Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin Resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Method: Nasal swabs were taken from cadavers undergoing post-mortem examinations at the mortuary of St. Luke’s Hospital. The swabs were taken to the Bacteriology Laboratory where attempts were made to culture S. aureus. Vitek® Gram Positive Susceptibility Cards were used for antibiotic susceptibility. MRSA positive organisms were tested using Penicillin Binding Protein Latex Agglutination. Key Findings: Ninety-three swabs were taken. The proportion of S. aureus nasal carriage was similar in both hospitalised and non-hospitalised groups. However, 8 out of 15 (53%) S. aureus carriers in the hospitalised group were MRSA positive, compared to 4 out of 19 (21%) S. aureus carriers in the non-hospitalised group. Conclusion: Hospitalisation increases the incidence of MRSA carriage compared to the non-hospitalised population.