Methicillin-resistant staphylococci carriage in the oral cavity: a study conducted in Bari (Italy).
OBJECTIVE
The oral cavity may represent a site of colonization by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS). To define the prevalence of staphylococci and MRS in the oral cavity, an observational study was carried out in the city of Bari (Italy).


METHODS
Sixty subjects were asked to provide oral samples and a questionnaire about risk factors of colonization by MRS. An enrichment medium specific for staphylococci was used for the isolation.


RESULTS
Swabs and corresponding questionnaires were available from 36 out of 60 patients. Staphylococci were isolated from seven out of 36 samples (prevalence 19.4%). Among the seven staphylococcal isolates, three were Staphylococcus aureus, and one strain, belonging to S. epidermidis species, was found to be MR (1.7%). No methicillin-resistant S. aureus were isolated. Five out of seven staphylococcal isolates exhibited resistance to more than two classes of non-beta-lactams antimicrobials. None of the risk factors analysed correlated with the status of MRS carriers, except the presence of oral disease.


CONCLUSIONS
The results underline the potential role of the oral cavity as a reservoir of staphylococci.
School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
A
A
Buonavoglia
F
F
Latronico
M F
MF
Greco
M
M
D'Abramo
M
M
Marinaro
F
F
Mangini
M
M
Corrente
D000038:Abscess / Q000382:microbiology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D005260:Female; D017789:Granuloma, Pyogenic / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D055815:Young Adult