Prevalence of Nasal Carriage Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus with mecA Gene among Healthy Primary School Boys in North of Iran; A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus has a key role in the epidemiology and pathogenesis of infection. In this study we aimed to investigate the occurrence of the methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA )and mecA gene among healthy primary school boys in north of Iran. Material and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2017 to July 2017 in Sari located in the north of Iran. Nasal swabs were taken from 277 healthy primary school boys. Staphylococcus aureus strains were identified according to the standard microbiological procedures and presence of spa gene. Agar screen method was used to determine MRSA. All MRSA isolates were examined for the existence of the mecA and spa gene by using Multiplex Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Results: The prevalence of nasal carriage of MRSA was 29.24%. The existence of the mecA gene among MRSA strains was 49.38%. The rate of resistant isolated to Cefoxitin, Vancomycin, Cefixime, Cefalotin, Clindamycin, ,Cefazolin, Co-amoxiclav, Amoxicillin, cotrimoxazole and Cefalexin antibiotics were 48.14%, 39.50%, 98.76%, 96.29%, 54.32%, 91.35%, 97.53%, 95.06%, 7.40% and 100% respectively. Conclusions: The high rate of Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) and presence of mec A gene and resistance to critically antibiotics against MRSA is a therapeutic concern and needs to strategies to prevent community spread of S. aureus.