ABSTRACT
Background & Objectives: Awareness of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is still lacking in various regions of developing countries. The present study was carried out to assess the prevalence and to establish significant risk factors for colonization with MRSA in health care workers. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out. Ninety one health care workers and were screened for MRSA by nasal swabbing. MRSA strains were detected by disc diffusion and chromogenic agar. The D test was also carried out to detect inducible clindamycin resistance. Hand hygiene practices were surveyed. Results:Twenty MRSA carriers were identified among the 91 health care workers (21.98%; CI95:13.97-31.88 %). A high prevalence was found in emergency ward (62.5 %; CI95: 24.49 -91.48 %) (p <0.05) .The surgical and orthopedic departments also showed high prevalence (54.55% and 75% respectively) (p< 0.001). Inducible clindamycin resistance was found in 20.45% samples. Chromogenic agar was found to have high sensitivity and results were similar to those of disc diffusion (p<0.001). Interpretation & Conclusion: The presence of significant risk factors aids in identification of high risk groups among hospital staff. Selective surveillance and effective lab techniques implemented in these groups will reduce the burden of MRSA in hospitals.