The Prevalence of Staphyloccocus Aureus on Students' Backpacks in Central Kentucky

Indianapolis, IN

The study was conducted in central Kentucky on backpacks for the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA. Five out of 40 (12.5%) college students' backpacks tested positive for S. aureus and 1 out of 40 (2.5%) tested positive for MRSA. The bottoms of the backpacks were sampled using sterile swabs and placed in Stuarts Transport Media. The swabs were transported to the lab within 2 hours. The swabs were isolated on Mannitol Salt Agar plates, incubated and read at 24 and 48 hours. Mannitol fermenting colonies were tested with rabbit plasma for coagulase production. Usually S.aureus produces coagulase that causes clot formation where other Staphyloccocus species are coagulase negative. Colonies that ferment mannitol and produce coagulase were tested for d-trehalose fermentation. Colonies fermenting mannitol and d-trehalose with coagulase production were identified as S.aureus and tested for oxacillin-resistance using the standard salt oxacillin plate screening procedure. Resistance to oxacillin shows the organism is MRSA. The results of this study agreed with other scientist research; showing S.aureus can live on inanimate surfaces. Any inanimate surface can be a great reservoir for bacteria; cleaning and disinfecting can reduce the amount of bacteria on surfaces.