Public transport as a reservoir of methicillin-resistant staphylococci.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to explore the occurrence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci in a large urban public transport system.


RESULTS
Samples were taken from hand rails, which passengers hold onto when they are standing. In total, 1400 swabs taken from 55 vehicles (trolleybuses, trams and buses) were examined. As many as 30.1% samples were positive for the presence of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCoNS), but none for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRCoNS were isolated from all 55 vehicles. Nearly 50% of MRCoNS isolates displayed resistance not only to beta-lactams, but at least to two or more other classes of antimicrobials as well.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated widespread occurrence of MRCoNS on hand rails in public transport vehicles. MRSA was not detected.


CONCLUSIONS
The recovery of methicillin-resistant staphylococci from public transport system implies a potential risk for transmission of these bacteria in an out-hospital environment.
Stepanović
S
S
Department of Bacteriology, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Dr Subotića 1, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. stepan@afrodita.rcub.bg.ac.yu
Cirković
I
I
Djukić
S
S
Vuković
D
D
Svabić-Vlahović
M
M
D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000382:microbiology; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055771:Serbia; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D014186:Transportation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014505:Urban Population
D004269:DNA, Bacterial