Optimal surveillance culture sites for detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in newborns.
We describe two outbreaks among newborns, one caused by community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the other by hospital-associated MRSA. The umbilicus, rectum, and nares were tested for colonization. We found that no single body site had optimal sensitivity when tested alone. The combination of umbilical and nasal swabs achieved a sensitivity of >90%.
Rosenthal
Alana
A
North York General Hospital, Infection Prevention and Control, 4001 Leslie Street, Toronto, M2K 1E1 Canada. arosenth@nygh.on.ca
White
Diane
D
Churilla
Sheila
S
Brodie
Sandra
S
Katz
Kevin C
KC
D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D009666:Nose / Q000382:microbiology; D012007:Rectum / Q000382:microbiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000382:microbiology