Colonização nasal em profi ssionais de enfermagem de unidades especializadas em HIV/aids Nasal colonization in nursing professionals from units specialized in HIV/AIDS Colonización nasal en unidades de enfermeras especializadas en el VIH/SIDA

Objective: to investigate the presence of microorganisms in the nostrils of the nursing professionals of a Brazilian teaching hospital. Method: cross-sectional study in two inpatient units specialized in HIV/AIDS. Nasal secretion samples of nursing professionals were collected in one month. The samples were processed at the microbiology laboratory of the institution and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 19.0. Ethical aspects were abided. Results: from the 73 members of the nursing staff, samples of nasal secretions were collected from 61 (80.2%). Six types of microorganisms were isolated in 22 (41.0%) positive cultures. It is noteworthy that Staphylococcus aureus accounted for 22.9%, four of them oxacillin-resistant (MRSA). Conclusion: Staphylococcus aureus microorganism accounted for the largest prevalence in individuals of this study.