DYNAMIC OF NASAL CARRIAGE OF METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS (MRSA) IN INTENSIVE-CARE UNIT PATIENTS

Prospective study on MRSA nasal cariage was done during two months in an intensive care unit in Limoges University Hospital. Nasal swab specimens were taken daily and cultered on selective and non selective media. Sixty eight patients were included in this study (878 swab collected, 575 MRSA isolated). Patients mean age was 62 years and stay period mean was 12,3 days (median: 7 days). Among these patients, 16 were already earring MRSA when entering in the unit and 26 became positive for MRSA during their stay. The mean colonisation delay was 5.5 days (median 4 days). All patients, except one, have shown a nasal carriage during all their stay. During the study period, 17 patients became infected and only two patients neither carried nasal MRSA before and during infection. In all cases, glycopeptid treatment did not affect nasal carriage. Colonisation and infection risk factors were discussed.