Assessing the Prevalence of Methicillin-Resistance Staphylococcus aureus among Healthcare Students in Madinah, Saudi Arabia

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant concern worldwide. While traditionally associated with hospitals (hospital-acquired) and other healthcare settings, MRSA infection has increasingly spread within the community. MRSA exhibits increased morbidity and mortality rates compared with other pathogens. This study aims to examine the prevalence of MRSA and its implications among healthcare students. A cross-sectional laboratory-based study was conducted from February to May 2023. A total of 149 nasal swab samples were collected from students in different medical fields at Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia. Conventional methods were used for S. aureus identification. All isolated organisms were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility against oxacillin and vancomycin. Among the 149 samples from the enrolled students, 54 (36.2%) showed isolated S. aureus. MRSA was detected in 23 (42.59%) samples with isolated S. aureus. The female students (n = 18, 42.85%) showed a higher prevalence of MRSA than did the male students (n = 5, 41.67%). All MRSA isolates were sensitive to vancomycin. The study focused on the current prevalence of MRSA among healthcare students in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, aiming to improve the development of comprehensive strategies to prevent the transmission of the bacteria among healthcare professionals and consequently among patients and the community.