title: Nasal colonization by Staphylococcus aureus in active, independent, community seniors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to evaluate the prevalence of nasal colonization with Staphylococcus aureus (SA) in active, independent community seniors and old people in a nursing home.
  
  
  METHODS
  cross-sectional brief questionnaire and screening culture of anterior nares specimens from 165 elders at a community centre and cross-sectional data from a recent survey in a nursing home.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the prevalence of SA colonization in community seniors (27%) was similar to that in the nursing home (29%). The proportion of SA isolates that were methicillin-resistant was much lower in the community seniors (2.3%) than in the nursing-home residents (31%). There was less antibiotic resistance in those living at home.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  in community seniors the prevalence of SA colonization was similar to that in nursing-home residents, but the prevalence of methicillin-resistant SA was lower. Susceptibility patterns of antibiotics tested against the SA showed less resistance than isolates from nursing-home patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Orange, USA.
authors.forename: Y L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cesario
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pax
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghouri
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Thrupp
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003151:Community Health Centers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000382:microbiology*; D009735:Nursing Homes; D015995:Prevalence; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents