title: Susceptibility patterns of Staphylococcus in a family practice population.
abstract: Nasal swabs were obtained from 408 patients seen in a family practice office in an attempt to identify Staphylococcus aureus carriers. Isolated strains were tested for sensitivity to 11 antibiotics. Study participants were interviewed to obtain the following data: age, history of recent hospitalization and/or recent antibiotic use, number of household members, and occupation, if employed in a health-care facility. S aureus was isolated from 109 nasal swabs. This represents a 26.7 percent carrier rate. Only 25.7 percent of the isolates were sensitive to penicillin G and ampicillin. No statistically significant association was found between the patient variables and either the carrier rate or the sensitivity of the S aureus isolates to penicillin. The sensitivity testing demonstrated that 94.5 percent of the isolates were sensitive to tetracycline and erythromycin. Ninety-nine to 100 percent of the isolates were sensitive to all other antibiotics tested. The authors conclude that penicillin G should not be used in the treatment of S aureus infections. Erythromycin, due to demonstrated sensitivity and reasonable cost, is recommended for mild to moderate infections.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000667:Ampicillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D009666:Nose / Q000382:microbiology; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004917:Erythromycin; D000667:Ampicillin; D013752:Tetracycline; D010400:Penicillin G