Rates of carriage of methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus in an outpatient population.

摘要: OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of and clinical features associated with asymptomatic Staphylococcus aureus colonization in a healthy outpatient population, to compare characteristics colonizing methicillin-resistant S. (MRSA) strains those causing infection our community hospital. SETTING: Outpatient military clinics. METHODS: Specimens were obtained from nares, pharynx, axillae 404 outpatients, questionnaire was administered obtain demographic risk factor information. MRSA typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) evaluated for antibiotic susceptibility. Antibiograms study compared illness during same time period. RESULTS: Methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) present 153 (38%) 8 (2%). Detection highest nares. No significantly colonization; however, tendency noted be more common men who older or had been recently hospitalized. All unique patterns on PFGE. In contrast responsible hospital infections, most isolates susceptible oral antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: MSSA is population. Colonization best detected nares cultures carriers are without apparent predisposing factors acquisition. Colonizing heterogeneous and, unlike nosocomial isolates, often retain susceptibility other non–beta-lactam antibiotics (Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2003;24:439-444).