Gastrointestinal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Nasal and rectal cultures were taken from all patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus identified on routine cultures obtained because of clinical indications. Of 117 patients studied over a 3-year period, 70 (60%) had rectal colonization and 62 (53%) had nasal colonization. Rectal colonization, probably reflecting gastrointestinal carriage, may be a source of transmission of methicillin-resistant S. aureus in hospitalized patients and may be difficult to eradicate.
D003428:Cross Infection / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008712:Methicillin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000382:microbiology; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D012007:Rectum / Q000382:microbiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*
D008712:Methicillin