Pilot Study to Detect the Presence of MRSA among Healthcare Workers Who Practice Ablution

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have emerged in the 1960s and is now commonly seen in hospitals, clinics and the community. In Saudi Arabia, MRSA prevalence was different from region to another, and the overall estimation was 35.6%. However, the infection with this pathogen can be prevented using many topical antiseptics or antibiotics. Moreover, colonization by this organism might be reduced by good washing using clean water. Thus, the aim of this study was to detect the presence of MRSA among healthcare workers who practice ablution. Methods: Nasal swabs were collected from 22 healthcare workers (64% female and 36% male) at Albaha city, Saudi Arabia. Participants were working at three different departments in the hospital including; clinical laboratory, emergency room and infection control unit with 55%, 36% and 9%, respectively. Identification of MRSA was performed by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (BD GenoOhm MRSATM Assay). Findings: The results of this study showed that MRSA was not isolated from any participants who use to practice ablution. On the other hand, MRSA was isolated from 3 (27%) samples, which were collected from healthcare workers who do not perform ablution. However, the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. Conclusions: MRSA nasal colonization can be reduced by nasal washing in ablution, which can be an easy and effective method to reduce or prevent colonization by this organism and thereby decrease the infection with serious staphylococcal diseases.