[Staphylococcus aureus in residents from a nursing-home in Cartagena].
OBJECTIVE
Determining Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage, antibiotic susceptibility and association with potential risk factors in residents from the Hogar Asilo de Ancianos San Pedro Claver nursing-home in Cartagena during the second semester of 2007.


METHODS
Nasal swabs were taken from each person participating in the study after they had signed an informed consent form. Staphylococcus aureus strains were identified by classical methods; antibiotic susceptibility was determined by disk diffusion methods, according to CLSI standards. SPSS for Windows 13.0 statistical package was used for analysing data collected from medical records and from a questionnaire for analysing association with potential risk factors.


RESULTS
11 Staphylococcus aureus isolates were obtained from 69 participants, corresponding to 15.9% prevalence. No methicillin-resistant strains were detected. Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage was significantly associated with limited mobility and skin lesions. There was no significant association with the other risk factors analysed.


CONCLUSIONS
Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage found in this study was lower than that reported from other similar studies in other countries, taking into account that this is a population at risk for colonisation by this pathogen.
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Cartagena, Colombia. alfonsobettin@yahoo.es
Alfonso
A
Bettin
Paola
P
Suárez
Andrés
A
Bedoya
Niradiz
N
Reyes
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002353:Carrier State; D003105:Colombia; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009666:Nose / Q000382:microbiology; D009735:Nursing Homes; D012307:Risk Factors; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents