Isolation of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from the Sputum of Tracheostomy Patients and the Mucus of Vestibule of Nose in Medical Staffs

The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was assessed in a bronchoesophagological ward (group A: patients with bronchoesophageal fistula, group B: medical staff controls) at Dokkyo University Hospital September to December 1995 and the nurse students in other hospitals in Saitama Prefecture (group C). The incidence of Staphylococcus aureus was 50-60% in the three groups and the frequency of MRSA was 60% in group A, 38% in group B, and 14% in group C. Coagulase types and antimicrobial susceptabilities of isolated strains were determined. The coagulase typing for MSSA and MRSA was different. MRSA were multi-resistant, to β-lactams and to one or more antimicrobial agents, but were susceptible to streptomycin, habekacin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, minocyclin, imipenum and vancomycin.