RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) carriers among staff of a tertiary eye hospital in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in 2019. Nasal and axillary swabs of health-care staff were used to determine carriers of MRSA. Bacteria were identified by culture and sensitivity tests. These isolates were grouped as antibiotic resistant, sensitive, and others not in the S. aureus group. Demographics and other determinants were associated with carrier status. RESULTS: We evaluated the carrier status of 430 staff. There were 110 (24.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 21.5, 29.7) S. aureus-positive staff, 21 (11.7%; 95% CI: 11.7, 26.4) of who carried the MRSA strain. Carrier status was significantly higher among physicians (31%) compared to nurses (22.5%) and other staff (5.7%) (P < 0.001). MRSA carrier status was significantly associated with >5 years of employment at the eye hospital (P = 0.02). MRSA was significantly associated with staff who were of Indian nationality (75%) compared to other nationalities (P = 0.04) and those who were at the hospital for <5-year stay compared more than 5 years at the hospital (P = 0.001). All carriers responded to decolonization treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of MRSA and relatively easy treat MRSA carriers points at the need for universal screening for MRSA carriers among eye health staff.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate ocular healthcare-seeking behaviours and vision screening outcomes of nursing staff at a tertiary eye care hospital. METHODS: This study was conducted between April and September 2016 among all 500 nurses employed at the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected on age, gender, use of visual aids, the presence of diabetes, a history of refractive surgery and date of last ocular health check-up. Participants were tested using a handheld Spot™ Vision Screener (Welch Allyn Inc., Skaneateles Falls, New York, USA). RESULTS: A total of 150 nurses participated in the study (response rate: 30.0%). The mean age was 41.2 ± 8.9 years old. Distance spectacles, reading spectacles and both types of spectacles were used by 37 (24.7%), 32 (21.3%) and 10 (6.7%) nurses, respectively. A total of 58 nurses (38.7%) failed the vision screening test. Visual defects were detected for the first time in 13 nurses (8.7%). With regards to regular eye checkups, 77 participants (51.3%) reported acceptable ocular healthcare-seeking behaviours; this factor was significantly associated with age and the use of visual aids (P <0.01 each). CONCLUSION: A high proportion of participants failed the vision screening tests and only half displayed good ocular healthcare-seeking behaviours. This is concerning as ophthalmic nurses are likely to face fewer barriers to eye care services than the general population.
