Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus contamination of Health care worker gowns and Uniforms: A cross-sectional Study from the biggest teaching hospital in Ethiopia

Introduction: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a global public health problem. Personal protective equipment (PPEs), including gowns and uniforms prevents transmission of pathogens including MRSA. Data are limited on the contamination of gowns and uniforms by MRSA in Ethiopia and many other developing nations using molecular markers. Objective: To determine the rate of MRSA contamination of gowns and uniforms of health care workers (HCWs) at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH), in Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used, and pooled swab samples from 588 HCW's reusable gowns/uniforms were tested for the presence of S.aureus MRSA and drug-resistant testing using conventional methods and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based mecA and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) detection. Socio-demographic data and information on the use of gowns and uniforms were collected using a questionnaire and analysed by SPSS version 20 software. A p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Female HCWs are slightly higher in number than males (58.4 % and 41.6 %, respectively). The mean age and standard deviation of HCWs were 29.13 +/- 6.6 years. In TASH, 15 % (88/588) and 57.5 % (338/588) of HCWs had single and long sleeve gowns and uniforms, respectively. Forty-seven S.aureus were isolated making MRSA contamination rate of 2.9 % (17/588) ( mecA positive and cefoxitin resistant) and a significant difference was seen among HCWs with history of surgical intervention. Ten of 17 MRSA contaminations were seen among HCWs who changed their gown once in a week and 2/3 of S.aureus carried PVL. Conclusion: Gowns and uniforms of HCWs in TASH harbored MRSA as confirmed by mecA and PVL, which has implications for infection control and prevention. TASH should provide an adequate number of gowns and urgently develop a policy covering gown use to curb MRSA transmission.