title: Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage in a college student athlete population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the prevalence of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) nasal carriage, risk factors for nasal carriage, and antibiotic susceptibility patterns in college student athletes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus nasal samples and data collection forms were obtained at athletic team training rooms at 2 colleges.
  
  
  METHODS
  : The study population included 277 college student athletes older than 18 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nasal swab was obtained from each athlete after completion of a data collection form. Variables collected on the data collection form included age, sex, race/ethnicity, athletic team, recent health care exposure(s), history of CA-MRSA exposure, recent antibiotic treatment(s), sharing towels, razors or soap, nose picking, and on-campus or off-campus living.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prevalence of CA-MRSA nasal carriage and antibiotic susceptibility patterns was analyzed. Risk factors for nasal carriage were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five positive CA-MRSA nasal carriers (4 men and 1 woman) were identified of 277 sampled; a prevalence of 1.8%. Two institutions were involved in the study. Institution 1 had 4 positive CA-MRSA nasal carriers of 124 sampled (3.2%). Institution 2 had 1 positive CA-MRSA nasal carrier of 153 sampled (0.65%). No risk factors were found to be significantly associated with positive CA-MRSA nasal carriage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of CA-MRSA nasal carriage in college student athletes in East Tennessee (1.8%) seems similar to what has been reported in the general population (1.5%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, The University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knoxville, Tennessee 37920, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Rackham
authors.forename: Shaunta' M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Andrea S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Franks
authors.forename: Kenneth M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Bielak
authors.forename: Tanika M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Pinn
mesh_terms: D056352:Athletes; D002353:Carrier State; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009666:Nose / Q000382:microbiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013334:Students; D013714:Tennessee / Q000453:epidemiology; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult