[Nasal carriers of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among cuban children attending day-care centers].
BACKGROUND
Recent but scarce reports of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains (MRSA) among children without risk factors associated with its acquisition prompted us to investigate its presence in the community.


METHODS
During the September and October months in 1997, nasal and pharyngeal swabs were obtained from 358 children aged less than five years who attended three day-care centers in the Marianao Area, La Habana City, Cuba. The isolated S. aureus strains were characterized for antimicrobial sensitivity using the Kirby-Bauer method. Methicillin resistance was confirmed by te Oxacillin Salt-Agar Screening-Plate method recommended by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards.


RESULTS
18.7% of children were carriers of S. aureus in the upper respiratory tract; 2.2% of children carried MRSA strains. The highest resistance levels corresponded to erythromycin (50.74%) and tetracycline (29.9%). All tested strains were sensitive to ciprofloxacin.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results provide evidence on the recovery of MRSA strains among healthy children attending day-care centers and are suggestive of a rapid colonization and spread of these microorganisms in the community.
Toraño
G
G
Laboratorio de Infecciones Respiratorias Agudas Bacterianas. Instituto Pedro Kourí. Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba. gilda@ipk.sld.cu
Quiñones
D
D
Hernández
I
I
Hernández
T
T
Tamargo
I
I
Borroto
S
S
D002654:Child Care; D002656:Child Day Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003462:Cuba; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D009666:Nose / Q000382:microbiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification
Portadores nasales de Staphylococcus aureus resistente a la meticilina entre niños cubanos que asisten a círculos infantiles.