Incidence and predictors of hypotension following spinal anaesthesia in adult surgical patients: A hospital-based prospective cohort study.

MHV Sindhura; V. Anitha Lavanya; Meesala Aparna; A Durga Rani

doi:10.51168/gh3qng80

Authors

Dr. MHV Sindhura Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Sri Pingali Venkaiah Government Medical College, Machilipatnam, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Dr. V. Anitha Lavanya Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Sri Pingali Venkaiah Government Medical College, Machilipatnam, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh
Dr. Meesala Aparna Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Sri Pingali Venkaiah Government Medical College, Machilipatnam, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India
Dr. A Durga Rani Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, Sri Pingali Venkaiah Government Medical College, Machilipatnam, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/gh3qng80

Keywords:

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, nasal carriage, health care workers; hospital infection, antimicrobial susceptibility, clindamycin resistance

Abstract

Background

Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus among health care workers is an important reservoir for hospital transmission, particularly when methicillin-resistant strains are present. Screening of anterior nares helps identify silent carriers and supports targeted infection-control measures.

Objectives

To estimate the prevalence of nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among health care workers in a tertiary care hospital and to describe the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of MRSA isolates, including inducible clindamycin resistance.

Methods

This hospital-based prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology, S.P.V. Government Medical College, Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India, from July to September 2025. Using consecutive sampling, 230 health care workers involved in direct or indirect patient-care services were enrolled. Anterior nasal swabs were collected and processed by conventional culture methods; Staphylococcus aureus isolates were tested phenotypically for methicillin resistance, and MRSA isolates were evaluated for inducible clindamycin resistance.

Results

The 230 participants represented multiple occupational groups: laboratory technicians/assistants 71 (30.9%), staff nurses 68 (29.6%), doctors 61 (26.5%), MNO/FNO personnel 20 (8.7%), and other clinical/support staff 10 (4.3%). Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was isolated from 204 (88.7%) samples. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 17 participants (7.4%); five isolates were methicillin resistant, giving an MRSA carriage prevalence of 2.2% among all health care workers and 29.4% among Staphylococcus aureus carriers. One MRSA isolate showed inducible clindamycin resistance.

Conclusion

The study demonstrated a low overall MRSA nasal carriage rate among health care workers, but nearly one-third of Staphylococcus aureus carriers harboured methicillin-resistant strains. Periodic screening remains useful for strengthening hospital infection-prevention practices.

Recommendations

Hospitals should conduct periodic MRSA surveillance among high-contact staff, reinforce hand hygiene, and ensure laboratory reporting of inducible clindamycin resistance before clinical use of clindamycin.

Author Biographies

Dr. MHV Sindhura, Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Sri Pingali Venkaiah Government Medical College, Machilipatnam, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India.

is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Sri Pingali Venkaiah Government Medical College, Machilipatnam, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India. She is actively involved in undergraduate medical teaching, diagnostic microbiology services, and academic activities. Her professional interests include clinical bacteriology, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, infection prevention, and antimicrobial resistance surveillance. ORCID iD : https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6486-1657
Dr. V. Anitha Lavanya, Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Sri Pingali Venkaiah Government Medical College, Machilipatnam, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh

is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Sri Pingali Venkaiah Government Medical College, Machilipatnam, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India. She has experience in medical education, clinical microbiology diagnostics, laboratory-based teaching, and academic supervision. Her areas of interest include infectious disease diagnostics, bacteriology, hospital infection control, and antimicrobial resistance patterns.
Dr. Meesala Aparna, Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Sri Pingali Venkaiah Government Medical College, Machilipatnam, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India

is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Sri Pingali Venkaiah Government Medical College, Machilipatnam, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India. She is engaged in undergraduate teaching, routine diagnostic microbiology, infection control-related activities, and academic work. Her professional interests include applied clinical microbiology, culture-based diagnosis, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and public health microbiology.
Dr. A Durga Rani, Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, Sri Pingali Venkaiah Government Medical College, Machilipatnam, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India

is Professor and Head of the Department of Microbiology, Sri Pingali Venkaiah Government Medical College, Machilipatnam, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India. She has extensive experience in medical teaching, diagnostic microbiology, departmental administration, infection control, and academic mentoring. Her areas of interest include clinical microbiology, antimicrobial resistance surveillance, hospital infection prevention, and laboratory quality practices.

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