Prevalence of oxacillin/methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated in the nursing staff

Objective: to estimate the prevalence of oxacillin/methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from saliva and nasal secretion of the nursing staff. Methods: cross-sectional study carried out in specialized units of a university hospital. In total, 600 samples of saliva and nasal secretions were obtained from nursing professionals. Results: of the 100 participants, the growth of Staphylococcus aureus was identified in 43.0% of professionals, 7.0% were resistant to methicillin. Of these Staphylococcus aureus resistant to methicillin, 100.0% were nasal carriers; two professionals were nasal and saliva carriers. All professionals colonized by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were indicated to perform the decolonization protocol in force at the institution of the study; six accepted to follow the protocol and only two presented negative cultures for Staphylococcus aureus after decolonization. Conclusion: the results evidenced the colonization of the nursing staff by Staphylococcus aureus, and the nasal cavity was identified as an important colonization site.