Characterization ofStaphylococcus aureusIsolates That Colonize Medical Students in a Hospital of the City of Cali, Colombia

Abstract

Introduction. Nasal carriage of methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) represents a risk for the spread of bacteria. This study characterized theS. aureusisolated from medical students, who were in their clinical rotation at a hospital in the city of Cali.Materials and Methods. 216 students participated in the study and 63 isolates ofS. aureuswere evaluated for susceptibility and PCR amplification ofagrandmecA genes. The origin of MRSA isolates was established by analyzingagrpolymorphisms.Results. A total of 29.2% of students were colonized byS. aureusand nasal carriage rate was 23.6% and 14.3% MRSA. Threeagrgroups (agrII, andagrIII) were identified; theagrI group was the most common, with a 35% prevalence; this group is from community origin.Conclusion. The present study demonstrates that medical students carryS. aureusstrains, with the threat of spreading them both to community and hospital environments.