title: Transmission of Staphylococcus aureus from maternity unit staff members to newborns disclosed through spa typing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We observed previously that newborn infants are colonized with Staphylococcus aureus, even if their mothers do not carry S aureus. This observation indicated a cross colonization, and, thus, a risk for nosocomial infection, although the infants are roomed in with their mothers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The S aureus colonization of infants, their parents, and staff members was measured at 3 maternity units. Possible transmission routes were determined using spa typing of S aureus isolates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infants had the highest S aureus carriage (45%) compared with fathers (39%), mothers (27%), and staff members (27%). In 13 out of 44 colonized infants, transmission from staff members was indicated. This transmission was more frequent than was transmission from their own parents (11 cases), and occurred even in cases when parents were colonized with S aureus of other spa types.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We confirm a high level of transmission of S aureus from staff members to infants, indicating a risk for patient safety, which necessitates continuing work with implementing scientific evidence for infection control. The spa typing is a rapid and valuable epidemiological tool, and it can be used in improving hospital hygiene control programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Division of Research and Development in Laboratory Medicine, County Hospital Ryhov, 55185 Jönköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matussek
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Taipalensuu
authors.forename: Ing-Marie
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Einemo
authors.forename: Malena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tiefenthal
authors.forename: Sture
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Löfgren
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017757:Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient; D008297:Male; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D011181:Postnatal Care; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A / Q000235:genetics*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A