Prevalence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among Medical Students at the University of Science and Technology in Taiz City, Yemen

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a significant public health threat, particularly in developing countries due to lack of healthcare controls and misuse of antibiotics. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a classic example of this problem. MRSA infections can be hospital-acquired (HA-MRSA) or community-acquired (CA-MRSA). Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of MRSA carriage among medical students at the University of Science and Technology, Taiz branch. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 197 medical students to determine Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) nasal carriage. Nasal swab specimens were collected to screen for the prevalence of S. aureus and its antimicrobial susceptibility. Results: Of the 197 students screened, the overall prevalence of S. aureus carriage was 22.8% (n=45). MRSA prevalence was identified in 3.6% (n=7/197) of students, representing 15.55% (n=7/45) of all results are isolates, while the remaining 84.4% (n=38/45) were methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA). Conclusion: The results of this study reveal a relative prevalence rate of MRSA carriage among medical students, which represent a potential reservoir for MRSA carriage. This presents a serious public health concern, requiring an immediate response by health authorities to establish preventive measure strategies to mitigate such source of MRSA risk in the community and prevent the potential for further transmission.