Community carriage of methicillin-resistant staphylococci among migrant communities living in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to determine community carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), S. epidermidis (MRSE), and S. haemolyticus (MRSH) among migrant workers from Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Nepal residing in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Methods: A total of 258 migrant workers were recruited for nasal swab screening of MRSA, MRSH and MRSE. Swabs were cultured on CHROMagarTM MRSA, and colonies exhibiting growth were subjected to species identification, antibiotic susceptibility testing and SCCmec typing. Results: Among 258 participants, 38 (14.7%) carried methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS), with Indonesian workers having the highest prevalence (n = 19, 50.0%). Among the MRS, MRSH was mostly commonly isolated (n = 18, 40.0%), followed by MRSA (n = 11, 24.4%) and MRSE (n = 2, 4.4%). Many isolates were resistant to erythromycin (n = 24, 53.3%), tetracycline (n = 17, 37.8%), ciprofloxacin (n = 17, 37.8%) and clindamycin (n = 17, 37.8%). SCCmec types I and V were predominantly found in MRSH (n = 20, 80.0%), while type IV was most common in MRSA (n = 10, 90.9%) and MRSE (n = 5, 55.6%). Conclusions: This is the first report of community carriage MRS in migrant workers living in Malaysia. Silent MRS carriage in pink-collar industries, such as domestic helpers might have local community transmission implications and could be further investigated.