The prevalence, antibiotic susceptibility and phage-type of nasally carried Staphylococcus aureus in the Dublin community.
A study was undertaken to determine the distribution, antibiotic susceptibility and phage type pattern of nasally-carried Staphylococcus aureus in the community. Coagulase-positive staphylococci were isolated from 180 of 440 individuals. The rate was higher in the inner city and among young adults and middle-aged males. The isolates were examined for phage-type patterns and antibiotic susceptibility. Most (60.6%) of the isolates were typable either at Routine Test Dilution (RTD) or at 100 RTD. Most belonged to phage group I (53.2%) and phage group III (21.1%). Susceptibility to penicillin and ampicillin was low at 12.3 and 15.5% respectively. All were susceptible to vancomycin. Methicillin-resistance was unexpectedly low at 0.6% whereas tetracycline and erythromycin resistance were in line with recent trends at 4.5 and 2.7%. The rate of multiple resistance was low at 2.3%.
Shuhaibar
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Department of Clinical Microbiology, Trinity College, Dublin.
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001434:Bacteriophage Typing; D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009666:Nose / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014505:Urban Population