Background: Community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus (CA-S. aureus) strains gaining antibiotic resistance cause major health problems worldwide. Emerging of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that are irresponsive to antibiotic treatments increased the prevalence of community- and hospital-acquired Staphylococcus aureus infections. Most of invasive staphylococcal infections are related with the nasal carriage of Staphylococcus. It is emphasized that hand and nasal carriages as a reservoir play an important role in the spread of these strains, as well as the community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus infections. In this study, we have investigated the prevalence of nasal and hand carriages of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) especially MRSA among students who were enrolled in the university and the role of hand hygiene in the MRSA nasal carriage. The aims of this study are to overcome MRSA infections that are irresponsive to antimicrobial treatments by estimating the prevalence of S. aureus and MRSA nasal and hand carriages in terms of population and to reveal the effect of hand hygiene in staphylococcal nasal carriage. Methods: Nasal and hand samples that were collected from left and right anterior nares and palms, finger tips and between fingers of student, respectively. These samples were cultured and identified by MRSA. Results: We have found that the prevalence of MRSA nasal and hand carriages were 0.73% (1/137) and 6.57% (9/137), respectively. It is also revealed that the prevalence of being both S. aureus nasal and hand carriers was 2.92% (4/137) (p<0.05). Conclusion: The development of Staphylococcal nasal carriage was seem to be related with the hand hygiene (p<0.05). Detecting the epidemiology and understanding the risk factors such as Staphylococcus aureus nasal and hand carriages are important to be aware of the invasive infections and the potential for MRSA and other Staphylococcal infections.

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