title: Personal hygiene and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection.
abstract: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections outside the healthcare setting are an increasing concern. We conducted a case-control study to investigate an MRSA outbreak during 2002-2003 in a Missouri prison and focused on hygiene factors. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, and hygiene practices of study participants was collected by interview and medical record review. Logistic regression was used to evaluate MRSA infection in relation to hygiene factors individually and as a composite hygiene score; potential confounding factors were controlled. Selected MRSA isolates were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). MRSA infection was significantly associated with a low composite hygiene score. Transmission among prison inmates appeared to be responsible for this outbreak. PFGE analysis showed that isolates were indistinguishable and associated with community-onset MRSA infections in other US prisons. Improving hygiene practices and environmental conditions may help prevent and interrupt future MRSA outbreaks in prison settings.
authors.affiliation: Office of Epidemiology, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Eastern District Health Office, Jefferson City, Missouri 63103, USA. george.turabelidze@dhss.mo.gov
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Turabelidze
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wolkoff
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dodson
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gladbach
authors.forename: Bao-Ping
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene / Q000592:standards*; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011329:Prisoners; D011330:Prisons; D012307:Risk Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents