Prevalence of nasal colonization among patients with community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection and their household contacts.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence of colonization among patients with community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infection and their household contacts.


METHODS
Prospective, observational laboratory study of nasal colonization among patients and their household members from September 15, 2004, to February 20, 2006.


METHODS
A 600-bed, urban, academic medical center.


METHODS
Fifty-one patients who presented with CA-MRSA infections and 49 household members had cultures of nasal swab specimens performed.


RESULTS
Skin and soft-tissue infections were seen in 50 patients (98%) and 2 household members. Twenty-one (41%) of 51 patients and 10 (20%) of 49 household members were colonized with MRSA. An additional 5 patients (10%) and 12 household members (24%) were colonized with methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus. Most MRSA isolates (95%; infective and colonizing) carried the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec type IV complex, and 67% represented a single clone, identical to USA 300. Of the colonized household members, 5 had isolates related to the patients' infective isolate.


CONCLUSIONS
The frequency of CA-MRSA colonization among household members of patients with CA-MRSA infections is higher than rates reported among the general population. Among colonized household members, only half of the MRSA strains were related to the patients' infective isolate. Within the same household, multiple strains of CA-MRSA may be present.
Zafar
Uzma
U
Department of Internal Medicine, St. John Hospital and Medical Center, Detroit, MI, USA.
Johnson
Leonard B
LB
Hanna
Michel
M
Riederer
Kathleen
K
Sharma
Mamta
M
Fakih
Mohamad G
MG
Thirumoorthi
Muthayipalayam C
MC
Farjo
Rand
R
Khatib
Riad
R
D000328:Adult; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009666:Nose / Q000382:microbiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects*