title: Screening for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in community-recruited injection drug users: are throat swabs necessary?
abstract: We examined and described colonization of MRSA in the anterior nares and throat from 184 community-recruited injection drug users. Thirty-seven (20%) were positive for MRSA: most (34, 92%) were carriers in the nares; while only three (8%) were carriers detected by throat swabs alone. The majority (29, 78%) of MRSA isolates were PVL positive.
authors.affiliation: Infection Prevention and Control, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, Canada. elloydsmith@providencehealth.bc.ca
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lloyd-Smith
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Hull
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Champagne
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Romney
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000737:chemistry; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D005098:Exotoxins / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007956:Leukocidins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008712:Methicillin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000382:microbiology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D005098:Exotoxins; D007956:Leukocidins; C078284:Panton-Valentine leukocidin; C108483:leukocidin S-component protein, Staphylococcus; C074300:LukF protein, Staphylococcus aureus; D008712:Methicillin