Kentucky Community & Technical College System
A Community College Survey for Community-Acquired Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Timothy T. Dick; Kathy Hoffman
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is considered normal flora of the anterior nares, nasopharynx, perineal area, and skin. This organism is responsible for a number of infectious diseases at the tissue level (boils, folliculitis, wound infections) and systemic level (endocarditis, osteomyelitis, septicemia). Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) can be introduced into a sterile body site through injury, or transmitted from person to person via fomites or direct contact. The person-to-person transmission has made this organism a leading cause of nosocomial infections in the United States. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a strain of S. aureus resistant to the beta-lactam antibodies and potentially, other antibiotic groups. Hospital-acquired MRSA has been increasingly found in the commmunity and is termed community-acquired MRSA. This spread into the community is in part due to the discharge of hospital patients with MRSA, the presence of MRSA in long-term care facilities, and individuals who have contact with these groups. This study examined fomites of the facilities on a community college campus. Samples were collected from fomite surfaces with sterile cotton-tipped applicators and subsequently inoculated onto Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA) plates. All sites positive for Staphylococcus on MMSA were re-tested on media selective for MRSA. The distribution of MRSA on the campus was summarized.
A Community College Survey for Community-Acquired Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
Staphylococcus aureus is considered normal flora of the anterior nares, nasopharynx, perineal area, and skin. This organism is responsible for a number of infectious diseases at the tissue level (boils, folliculitis, wound infections) and systemic level (endocarditis, osteomyelitis, septicemia). Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) can be introduced into a sterile body site through injury, or transmitted from person to person via fomites or direct contact. The person-to-person transmission has made this organism a leading cause of nosocomial infections in the United States. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a strain of S. aureus resistant to the beta-lactam antibodies and potentially, other antibiotic groups. Hospital-acquired MRSA has been increasingly found in the commmunity and is termed community-acquired MRSA. This spread into the community is in part due to the discharge of hospital patients with MRSA, the presence of MRSA in long-term care facilities, and individuals who have contact with these groups. This study examined fomites of the facilities on a community college campus. Samples were collected from fomite surfaces with sterile cotton-tipped applicators and subsequently inoculated onto Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA) plates. All sites positive for Staphylococcus on MMSA were re-tested on media selective for MRSA. The distribution of MRSA on the campus was summarized.