title: Staphylococcus aureus colonization among healthcare workers at a tertiary care hospital.
abstract: We describe the epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus colonization among 200 healthcare workers. The prevalence of S. aureus was 28%, and the prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) was 2%. The incidence of MRSA colonization was extremely low. This study suggests that the risk of MRSA transmission to healthcare workers is low in a hospital where MRSA is endemic.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. cecilia.johnston@gmail.com
authors.forename: Cecilia P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Amy K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Stokes
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Mian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Karen C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: Sara E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Cosgrove
authors.forename: Trish M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Perl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016106:Methicillin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010802:Phylogeny; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects*