title: A cluster of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus colonization in a nursery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Staphylococcus aureus is among the most important pathogens of bacteremia in hospitals. Colonizing strains may spread to other patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-two mothers visiting delivery rooms were included in this study. From the mothers, specimens were obtained from the nares and vagina for the detection of S. aureus. From the babies, specimens were obtained from the nares and umbilicus within 24 h in the nursery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The carriage rates of S. aureus were 25% in the parturient mothers and 30.9% in their babies. The majority (55 isolates, 94.8%) of the isolates were methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA). Of the 55 MSSA isolates, 11 genotypes were identified for isolates from the mothers and five geno-types for isolates from the infants. A major clone was identified and accounted for 82% of 34 isolates from the babies. Nine pairs of mothers and babies were colonized with MSSA; by molecular methods, the paired isolates were indistinguishable in two pairs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Newborn babies acquire S. aureus colonization soon after birth, partly from their mothers. Once S. aureus is introduced into a nursery, spread of the strain may occur if health-care workers do not execute infection control measures strictly.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kweishan, Taoyuan, Taiwan. ychuang@cgmh.org.tw
authors.forename: Yhu-Chering
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: An-Shine
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: Lin-Hui
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Shuenn-Dyh
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D008712:Methicillin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009725:Nurseries, Hospital; D011247:Pregnancy; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D008712:Methicillin