Methicillin Resistant Staphylococci Bacteria - Essay Example

Critical Paper The article, “Prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci species isolated from computer keyboards located in secondary and postsecondary schools” authored by Boa, Rahube, Fremaux, Levett and Yost is a research paper from the Journal of Environmental health. This article investigated the prevalence of methicillin resistant staphylococci bacteria on keyboards. Researchers sampled computer terminals were sampled for the presence of staphylococcus aureus and methicillin resistant staphylococci and found an overall prevalence of 0.68% for post secondary institution and 2% for secondary institutes (Boa et al, 52-55). The results also show that there is a mix community of methicillin resistant staphylococci on the keyboards since methicillin resistant S. Epidermidis and S. haemolyticus were isolated from the computer keyboards. The investigators then concluded that even though there is low prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, their presence, coupled with high volume of traffic on these student computer terminals is a demonstration of higher risk. The public access computers have potential to act as reservoirs for Staphylococcus aureus. The hypothesis in this study was that; the prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus on computer rooms and public access computers was high and the keyboards contains strains implicated in disease outbreaks. The research question was that is there high prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus on computer keyboards of public access student computer terminals. The dependent variable in this study was prevalence rate of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) while the independent variable was the specimen collected from computer terminals used by the students in secondary and post secondary school. The dependent variable which is the prevalence of MRSA was controlled by following the standard procedure in the collection, handling, inoculation and isolation of Staphylococcus aureus. In this regard the prevalence rate was only read after the growth and isolation. It is important to note that there could be many bacterial growth from samples collected from computer terminals, however, through the use of selective media, mannitol salt agar (MSA), only Staphylococcus aureus could grow. Specimens that are the independent variables were controlled by ensuring that all specimens were collected from the computer keyboards alone and a standard procedure was used to collect, label, prepare and preserve the specimen. The investigators exercised high standards of control on biasness. Sampling bias was controlled by ensuring that the samples were all inclusive. As stated by Connelly, Paul and Shonna (431), sampling bias take place when the investigators in an experiment and through the process of sampling introduces an inherent bias into the study and can be omission or inclusive. Researchers collected specimens from different schools as well as from high traffic and low traffic computers. In this respect, there was no omission of any sample that was to be included or inclusion of other samples that were not to be included in the study. The other type of bias is procedural, and this was controlled by following a standard procedure throughout the experiment. Moreover the procedure used to collect, prepare, preserve, inoculate and isolate bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus was similar for all specimens thus bias arising from design were also controlled. The independent variables (specimens) were also subject to same treatments by the researcher. This study consisted of 134 samples which included; 7 samples each from high traffic and low traffic computers from the University of Regina keyboards, 50 samples from two computer labs in high school one and 70 samples from three computer labs in high school two within Regina area (Boa et al, 52). The specimens collected from the samples were then incubated and isolation of MRSA done using selective media. Before testing for the survival of Staphylococcus aureus on keyboards, all keyboards were cleaned using standardized methicillin, swabs taken and test done by Saskatchewan Disease Control Laboratory. The bacterial counts were done and compiled for each category and the Weibull type model was used to fit them. Statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was done to determine how different strains influence the number of days while comparisons for significant differences were made using paired t-tests (Boa et al, 52). The use of ANOVA and paired t-test as statistical analysis tools were the most appropriate for this study. This is because the researchers aimed at making comparisons as well as making generalizations about a phenomenon. Researchers used ANOVA and t-test in this experiment because they wanted to see if the differences in mean between different samples are significant. As stated in this text earlier own, samples were different, high traffic keyboard terminals and low traffic keyboard terminals. It was therefore very important in analyzing if the differences in MRSA prevalence in high and low traffic keyboard computers are significant. This was not only important in answering the research question, but was also important in making accurate generalizations about research question. The results of this study show that computer keyboards from the three schools exhibit different contamination levels of Staphylococcus aureus. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus was also isolated from one high traffic computer keyboard from University of Regina library and from high school keyboard (Boa et al, 53). Incidences of Oxacillin-resistant bacteria contaminating keyboards were also very high in the high school followed by those observed from university keyboards with some strains having high survival rate in methicillin treatments. The researchers have presented their results in accurate and consistent manner that allows for easy follow up and comparison. The investigators have also used graphs, tables and figures comprehensively to present and discuss their results hence making it easier for other researchers to understand the results (Boa et al, 53-55). Since the procedures were also systematic, simple and clear, it is easier for other researchers to repeat this experiment. The researchers do not however provide justification for the choice of sampling procedure or statistical analysis. The researchers have not stated why they chose random sampling and ANOVA but not other tools and methods of research. Justification for the choice of statistical tools is important in helping readers and other researchers in understanding a research paper. Researchers concluded that computer terminal within Schools within Regina area and the University of Regina were found to be contaminated with various species of staphylococci species including normal flora, methicillin resistant, potentially pathogenic MRSA and coagulase-negative staphylococci. Survival of staphylococcus species was also very high up to 12 days of inoculation thus keyboards presented a potential bacterial reservoir (Boa et al, 55). I completely agree with these conclusions since they have been made based on the results gotten from the experiment. Generalizations and conclusions by investigators are also accurate since they answer research question that was stated by the researcher. It is also important to note that the investigators have also stated the implication of their study with respect to disease epidemiology. Last but not least, I agree with conclusions since the investigators have given room for further research and challenges epidemiologist to increase public awareness with respect to the risks of using public facilities and sanitizing hands in areas with open access to keyboards such as hotels (Boa et al, 56) Works Cited Boa, Tyler T, et al. "Prevalence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococci Species Isolated From Computer Keyboards Located In Secondary and Postsecondary Schools." Journal of Environmental Health 75.6 (2013): 50-58. Connelly, Brian S., Paul R. Sackett, and Shonna D. Waters. "Balancing Treatment And Control Groups In Quasi-Experiments: An Introduction To Propensity Scoring." Personnel Psychology 66.2 (2013): 407-442 Read More