摘要：AbstractBackgroundStaphylococcus aureusassociated nosocomial infection is an important health challenge as isolates may involve multidrug resistant strains. Sources ofS.aureusinfection in healthcare settings include colonized healthcare workers, inpatients, and caretakers. This study investigatesS. aureuscarriage rate and associated antimicrobial resistance among healthcare workers, inpatients, and caretakers in the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), Ghana.MethodsNasal swabs and demographic data were collected from a cross-section of healthcare workers, inpatients, and caretakers. The swabs were culture andS. aureusisolates subjected to antibiotic susceptibility assay.ResultsResults:S. aureusnasal carriage rate was 25.5% (27/106) while MRSA and non-MRSA prevalence were 8.5% (9/106) and 17.0% (18/106) respectively. The proportion ofS. aureuscarriage distribution was highest among neonates 42.1% (8/19), follow by participant in the age group 11–20 years, 36.8% (7/19). Inpatients, healthcare workers, and caretakers recordedS. aureuscarriage rate of 30.0% (15/50), 27.8% (10/36), and 10% (2/20), respectively. Healthcare workers had the highest proportion of MRSA 40% (4/10) and inpatients recorded a rate of 33.3% (5/15), while no case of MRSA was recorded among caretakers. Antibiotic resistance pattern of the isolates was generally higher in MRSA compared to non-MRSA.ConclusionsThere exist relatively high rate ofS. aureusnasal carriage among healthcare workers, inpatients, and caretakers in the wards/units of the TTH. However, MRSA were only isolated from healthcare workers and inpatients but not caretakers.
