Frequency of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in nose and cellular phone of medical and non-medical personnel of emergency departments of Ghaem hospital in Mashhad city

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the commensal bacteria and components of nose normal flora in 30-40% of people. The cellular phone is infected through the hands of a person who has already been infected with nasal discharge, in the hospital. Patients and family members with a weakened immune system are at high risk of contamination; the treatment procedure is difficult. Materials and methods: 200 individuals who were working in the emergency departments of Ghaem were included in the study. Sampling was done by three sterile swabs; two swabs from the nose and one from the surface of the cellular phone. The diagnosis was done according to the staphylococcus biochemical tests. Beta-lactamase positive staphylococcus was identified by nitrocefin. MIC method was performed using E-test strips and agar dilution for detecting the MRSA. Results: 86 out of 200 nasal, and 200 cellular phone samples were diagnosed as beta-lactamase positive staphylococci and sensitivity test was done. 17 out of 86 beta-lactamase positive Staphylococcus aureus samples were resistant to cefoxitin, piperacillin, ceftriaxone, and cefotaxime; just one of these 17 samples was resistant to vancomycin. 24 samples were contaminated with healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA). Totally, cellular phone and nasal discharge of 12% of studied individuals were infected with the HA-MRSA. Conclusion: Cell phone usage should be prohibited in the hospital sections. Disinfection of the mobile phone should be taken when leaving the hospital, along with hand, face, and nose washing seriously. It is suggested to evaluate all persons working in hospitals regarding the contamination to MRSA.