title: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization at different body sites: a prospective, quantitative analysis.
abstract: We quantified methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage. The greater the log(10) count in samples from the nares, the greater the likelihood that other body sites had been colonized. Log(10) counts among body sites were correlated. The greatest sensitivity value (98%) was determined for the combined results from 2 sites: the nares and the groin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA. lmermel@lifespan.org
authors.forename: Leonard A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Mermel
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cartony
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Covington
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maxey
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D058491:Bacterial Load; D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006119:Groin / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology; D010502:Perineum / Q000382:microbiology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*