title: Risk factors for colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a long-term-care facility in Slovenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate risk factors associated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization in a long-term-care facility (LTCF) for the elderly in Slovenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 351-bed community LTCF for the elderly.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a case-control study. MRSA carriage was identified in 102 of 127 residents of the facility's nursing unit. Two swabs were taken: one from the anterior nares and one from the largest skin lesion. If no skin lesions were present, the axillae and the groin area were swabbed. Data were collected regarding gender, age, length of stay in the facility, underlying conditions, functional status, presence of wounds or pressure sores, presence of catheters, antibiotic treatments, and hospital admissions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We detected MRSA in 12 participants. Risk factors independently and significantly associated with MRSA colonization on the multivariate analysis were antibiotic treatments within 1 month before the investigation (odds ratio, 5.087; 95% confidence interval, 1.02 to 25.48; P = .048) and multiple hospital admissions in the 3 months before the investigation (odds ratio, 6.277; 95% confidence interval, 1.31 to 30.05; P = .022).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first assessment of risk factors for colonization with MRSA in an LTCF in Slovenia. MRSA poses a problem in this LTCE Our observations may be valuable in implementing active surveillance cultures in infection control programs in Slovenian LTCFs.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Public Health Institute Novo mesto, Novo mesto, Slovenia. petra.vovko@zzv-nm.si
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vovko
authors.forename: Matjaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Retelj
authors.forename: Tjasa Zohar
authors.initials: TZ
authors.lastname: Cretnik
authors.forename: Borut
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jutersek
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harlander
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kolman
authors.forename: Marija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gubina
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D002353:Carrier State; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D007902:Length of Stay; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D012307:Risk Factors; D017524:Slovenia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000635:transmission; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification