Staphylococcus aureus resistente à meticilina (MRSA) em superfícies de interação infantil na Pediatria de um hospital universitário
BACKGROUND: This study evaluated environmental contamination by Staphylococcus aureus in the Pediatric Department of the Hospital de Clínicas of the Federal University of Uberlândia (HC-UFU), as well as the antimicrobial resistance profile of the isolated strains, aiming to understand the potential risks associated with the circulation of this pathogen. METHODS: A total of 70 samples were collected from surfaces and objects in the pediatric unit. Bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were performed, including the D-test for inducible clindamycin resistance and phenotypic screening for the MRSA profile. RESULTS: Of the 70 samples analyzed, 9 (12.87%) were positive for S. aureus, of which 8 (88.8%) were classified as MRSA profile. No strains were isolated from toys, a finding possibly associated with the cleaning protocols adopted, whereas shared-use surfaces showed the highest contamination rates. The D-test detected inducible clindamycin resistance in 55.5% of the isolates. CONCLUSIONS: The findings reinforce the importance of biosafety measures, including proper cleaning, microbiological surveillance, and the rational use of antimicrobials, and suggest a possible route of S. aureus transmission between the community and the hospital environment.