Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in saliva of healthcare workers

https://doi.org/10.25100/cm.v42i2supl1.815

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Published: Jul 12, 2024
Updated: 2024-07-12
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2024-07-12 (3)
Issue: Vol. 42 No. 2.supl.1 (2011): Enfermería
Section Original Articles

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Authors

Elaine Drehmer De Almeida Cruz Universidade Federal do Paraná
Fabiana Cristina Pimenta Universidade Federal de Goiás
Izabel Cristina Vanzato Palazzo Universidade de São Paulo
Ana Lúcia da Costa Darini Universidade de São Paulo
Elucir Gir Universidade de São Paulo
Abstract
Background: The carrier state of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is pointed as an infection predictor and a factor for environmental and person-to-person dissemination, including health service workers. These, when colonized are commonly associated to outbreaks.
Objective: Analyze the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in saliva of workers at a university hospital.
Methodology: Epidemiologic longitudinal study carried out in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, with 486 workers between April 2006 and June 2008. Three saliva samples were collected and a data collection instrument was applied. Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from the clinical specimen and characterized by phenotypes. The data from the instrument and the laboratory results were organized and processed with EPI-Info software and analyzed via descriptive statistics.
Results: Among the healthcare workers studied, 60.9% were colonized by Staphylococcus aureus in saliva; of those, 67.9% were transitory carriers and 32.1% were persistent carriers; the prevalence of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among the isolated cases was 15.7%. The average prevalence of MRSA was 12.7% and higher among nurses’ aides (21.4%) and cleaning aides (20.6%) and lower among nurses (4.5%) and doctors (5.9%).
Conclusions: Healthcare workers presented high prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in saliva, indicating the mouth as an important body site to investigate colonization by MRSA and a potential source to its dissemination.
Keywords
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Methicillin resistance
  • Carrier state
  • Occupational risks.
References

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How to Cite
De Almeida Cruz, E. D., Pimenta, F. C., Vanzato Palazzo, I. C., da Costa Darini, A. L., & Gir, E. (2024). Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in saliva of healthcare workers. Colombia Medica, 42(2.supl.1), 10–6. https://doi.org/10.25100/cm.v42i2supl1.815 (Original work published July 26, 2011)
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Received 2011-07-25
Accepted 2011-07-26
Published 2024-07-12
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