Prevalence and risk factors for Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus colonization in anterior nares of HIV- positive individuals

Introduction: Bacterial infections are known to be a major source of morbidity and mortality in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Staphylococcus aureus is recognised to colonise the anterior nares of HIV infected persons with greater frequency than that of general population which can lead to a higher incidence of infection. Material and methods: Three hundred patients with HIV infection attending the ICTC (Integrated counselling testing centre) and ART (Antiretroviral therapy) centre at Govt. Medical College (GMC), Amritsar were studied for nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and associated risk factors for nasal colonization. Nasal swabs were used for isolation of S. aureus and MRSA were detected by oxacillin screen agar, oxacillin broth dilution methods (for MIC). Results: More than 80% of the patients were colonized with S. aureus in the anterior nares and methicillin resistance was found in 42% of the isolates. Co-trimoxazole use, hospital stay for more than 10 days, dermatosis and intravenous drug usage were other risk factors for nasal carriage of MRSA. Conclusion: Active surveillance for the presence of MRSA in the anterior nares may help in the early initiation of various elimination strategies which will further reduce morbidity & mortality in HIV patients caused by MRSA.