📄 Abstract
Background: Nasal colonization by Staphylococcus aureus, particularly methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is an important concern in patients undergoing surgery because colonization may contribute to subsequent infection and healthcare transmission. Objective: To determine the prevalence of nasal carriage of S. aureus and MRSA and to assess the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern among patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery. Methods: A one-year cross-sectional study was conducted from January to December 2022. Nasal swabs were collected from 122 patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery. Samples were processed by Gram staining and culture on blood agar and mannitol salt agar. S. aureus was identified using colony morphology, catalase, coagulase and other biochemical reactions. Antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed by Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion, and methicillin resistance was screened using a 30-µg cefoxitin disk. Results: S. aureus was isolated from 58 of 122 samples (47.5%), while 64 (52.4%) yielded coagulase-negative staphylococci. MRSA was identified in 17 patients, corresponding to 13.93% of the study population. Among S. aureus isolates, the highest resistance was reported to erythromycin (76.2%) and clindamycin (64.3%). Among MRSA isolates, resistance was highest to erythromycin (94.1%), levofloxacin (88.23%), and clindamycin (70.5%). Conclusion: The study demonstrates a substantial burden of nasal S. aureus carriage and MRSA colonization among elective abdominal surgery patients. Preoperative screening, appropriate decolonization strategies, hand hygiene and antimicrobial stewardship may help reduce the risk of transmission and postoperative infection.
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📚 How to Cite:
Abhishek Rathod , TO STUDY THE PREVALENCE OF NASAL CARRIAGE OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING ABDOMINAL SURGERY , Volume 12 , Issue 9, September 2026, EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) , Pages: 350 - 352 ,