Nasal And Hand Carriage Of Bacteria In Different Groups Of Persons In A Teaching Hospital In India

Abstract

Research Problem: What is the level of bacterial car­riage in different groups of hospital staff? Objective: To study nasal and hand carriage of bacteria in different groups of persons in a teaching hospital. Study Design: Prospective study. Setting: Surgical wards of J.N. Medical College Hospi­tal, A.M.U., Aligarh. Participants: Randomly selected persons from differ­ent groups of hospital staff (doctors, nurses, ward and OT assistants), visitors of patients, patients and medi­cal students. Sample Size: 275 persons. Study Variables: Nasal and hand carriage of S. aureus and gram negative bacilli. Outcome Variables: Percentage of hospital staff show­ing bacterial carriage in their nose or on their hands. Statistical Analysis: By tests of significance. Result: Overall bacterial carriage rate in different cat­egories of hospital staff was found to be 54.5%. Doc­tors and paramedical staff had higher bacterial carriage rate as compared to other groups. Though Staphylo­coccus aureus was the commonest organism isolated from both nose and skin, carriage of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas and Klebsiella group of gram-negative bacilli was also observed. Nasal carriage was com­moner than dermal carriage. Conclusion: Doctors and paramedical staff in hospital should adopt appropriate preventive measures to avoid transmitting pathogenic bacteria from their nose and skin to their patients.