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MRSA colonization high in firefighters, paramedics
Roberts MC. Am J Infect Control. 2011;39:382-389.
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Compared with only 1.5% of the general US population, 22% of firefighters studied were carriers of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Marilyn C. Roberts, PhD, and colleagues said reducing MRSA colonization in the firefighter profession may reduce MRSA infection risk in this population, as well as reduce transmission to others.
“Firefighters and paramedics interact with both hospital and community populations, including those who are known at-risk groups for MRSA infections,” Roberts, professor in the department of environmental and occupational health sciences at the University of Washington, told Infectious Disease News. “Their duties are likely directly responsible for the presence of MRSA contamination in fire station living quarters, fire apparatuses and MRSA colonization and disease in firefighters and related personnel.”
The researchers pooled 1,064 samples from medic and fire trucks, fire gear, garages, kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and other areas in two firehouses. Of the 600 samples collected during the first sampling, 4.3% tested positive for MRSA. Medic trucks contained 50% of MRSA, followed by kitchens (11.5%) and other areas such as computer keyboards and desks (7.7%).
After an educational program was conducted and hand sanitizers were installed at both firehouses, researchers then collected 464 samples during a second sampling. MRSA positive samples (3.9%) were found in all areas sampled, with MRSA detected in 22% of samples from the kitchen and outer gear, and 16.6% from medic trucks. In addition, a hospital-acquired strain was isolated from two fire trucks and garage area samples.
The researchers also obtained 40 fire personnel nasal samples across 13 stations and found 22.5% were positive for MRSA. “The majority (58%) of the nasal MRSA and S. aureus were genetically related to environmental surface isolates suggesting transmission between personnel and the environmental surfaces may be occurring,” the researchers wrote.
“Further work is needed to extend the study to a variety of different fire districts across the country to determine if our results are representative of the national firefighter work environment and if the high level of MRSA nasal carriage is found nationally,” Roberts said. – by Ashley DeNyse
Disclosure: Dr. Roberts reports no relevant financial disclosures.
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