title: Molecular surveillance of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus at a neonatal intensive care unit in Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We evaluated the relationship among hospital infection and colonization by methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), clonal spread, and associated risk factors in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the Uberlândia Federal University-affiliated hospital in Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between February 2004 and June 2005, a longitudinal surveillance study was carried out in an NICU with neonates presenting infections, through both the NNIS system and S aureus punctual colonization prevalence inquests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall rate of infection incidence was 23/1000 patient-days. Of all the neonates assessed, 15 were infected and 15 colonized. Sepsis was the most frequent infection, whereas anterior nare was the most isolated site. Antibiotics use, central vascular catheter (CVC), and CVC use more than 7 days and its insertion by phlebotomy were the risk factors for colonization/infection. Molecular analysis showed polyclonal origin (12 genotypes), with predominance of a genotype ("B"), and clonal identity between colonization and infection samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The analysis by means of classical epidemiology and molecular techniques pointed out that methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus infections were associated with previous colonization by the pathogen, with evidence of horizontal transmission within the unit.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Microbiologia, Area de Imunologia, Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. helisangelaa@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Helisângela de Almeida
authors.initials: Hde A
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Eliezer M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Ricardo P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Schuenck
authors.forename: Ricardo C M
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Vânia O S
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Abdallah
authors.forename: Kátia Regina N
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Paulo P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Gontijo-Filho
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008712:Methicillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D008712:Methicillin