Spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among household contacts of individuals with nosocomially acquired MRSA.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency with which methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is spread from colonized or infected patients to their household and community contacts.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Household and community contacts of MRSA-colonized or -infected patients for whom MRSA screening cultures were performed.


RESULTS
MRSA was isolated from 25 (14.5%) of 172 individuals. Among the contacts of index patients who had at least one MRSA-colonized contact, those with close contact to the index patient were 7.5 times more likely to be colonized (53% vs 7%; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 50.3; P = .002). An analysis of antimicrobial susceptibility and DNA fingerprint patterns suggested person-to-person spread.


CONCLUSIONS
MRSA colonization occurs frequently among household and community contacts of patients with nosocomially acquired MRSA, suggesting that transmission of nosocomially acquired MRSA outside of the healthcare setting may be a substantial source of MRSA colonization and infection in the community.
Calfee
David P
DP
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA.
Durbin
Lisa J
LJ
Germanson
Teresa P
TP
Toney
Denise M
DM
Smith
Elise B
EB
Farr
Barry M
BM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*