A Study of Nasal Carriage of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (Nosocomial Infections caused by Methicillin-Resistant Staphyllococcus aureus（MRSA）: The Present Problems and The Strategies for Prevention)

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus （MRSA） is one of the most important microorganisms in nosocomial infection. The hospital staff working in MRSA endemic wards are known to have MRSA in their nasal cavity. We studies the frequency of nasal carriage of MRSA in staff members and patients of three hospitals. In Niigata University Hospital, 10 out of 109 （9.2%） nurses and 8 out of 142 （5.6%） doctors were found to be MRSA carriers. In Nagaoka Red Cross Hospital, 25 out of 448 （5.6%） nurses were found to be MRSA carriers, however, no carrier was found in 23 doctors. In National Takada Hospital, 6 out of 53 （11.3%） nurses were found to be MRSA carriers, however, no carrier was found in 8 doctors. The strains detected in these hospitals were also resistant to MPIPC, IPM, TFLX and OFLX, whereas they remained to be sensitive to VCM. Elimination of nasal MRSA from the carriers was tried for avoiding hospital outbreaks of this potential pathogen. Forty hospital staff and 19 patients, in whom MRSA was found persistly in their nasal cavity, were treated by povidon iodine and chloramphenicol （CP）. MRSA disappeared in 44% and 83% of the nasal carriers by povidon iodine and CP, respectively