PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Rohde, Rodney E. AU - Rowder, Cheryl AU - Patterson, Tom AU - Redwine, Gerald AU - Vásquez, Bob AU - Carranco, Emillio TI - Methicillin Resistant <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> (MRSA): An Interim Report of Carriage and Conversion Rates in Nursing Students AID - 10.29074/ascls.25.2.94 DP - 2012 Apr 01 TA - American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science PG - 94--101 VI - 25 IP - 2 4099 - http://hwmaint.clsjournal.ascls.org/content/25/2/94.short 4100 - http://hwmaint.clsjournal.ascls.org/content/25/2/94.full SO - Clin Lab Sci2012 Apr 01; 25 AB - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and characterize MRSA and staphylococci carriage and conversion rates in nursing students across clinical semester rotations and to describe risk factors.DESIGN: A prospective, longitudinal cohort design (interim report) with three times of measurement. Data collected between August 2010 and May 2011 (ongoing longitudinal study to May 2012). Institutional Review Board approval (2010F5693).SETTING: Texas State University, San Marcos, TX.PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-seven nursing students.INTERVENTIONS: A positive MRSA swab represented an end-point for a participant. Intervention offered was bactroban (mupirocin) for nasal decolonization and an oral antibiotic, doxycycline; post-treatment collection to verify decolonization prior to next clinical rotation.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Screening for Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA identification; confirmation and antibiotic susceptibility by Vitek 2. Self-administered questionnaires collected demographics and risk factors. Generalized estimating equations calculated population-averaged panel logistic regression models allowing for an AR(1) error by Stata version 12.RESULTS: MRSA colonization did not increase. S. aureus prevalence (20-26%). Species prevalence other than S. aureus increased (9.2% to 80%). The following associations were found to be statistically significant: boil or skin infection odds with S. aureus (OR= 2.43, p&lt; .05), working or volunteering in healthcare facility odds with S. other (OR= 2.72, p &lt; .05) and gym and sports activities odds with S. other (OR= 4.98, p &lt; .001).CONCLUSIONS: MRSA colonization did not increase. Knowledge and understanding of MRSA (risks) may play a role in compliance and barrier precautions. S. aureus colonization remained stable (25-30%). Species colonization other than S. aureus (e.g. S. epidermis, S. haemolyticus) increased to significant levels.ABBREVIATIONS: MRSA= Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus; CA-MRSA=Community-associated methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus; HA-MRSA=Healthcare-associated methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus; CLS = Clinical Laboratory Science; OR = Odds Ration; CI = Confidence Interval; HCWs = Healthcare Workers; Healthcare associated infections = HAIs.