title: Too close for comfort: screening strategy to detect methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus conversion in exposed roommates.
abstract: All 899 roommates exposed to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) index cases were studied over 57 months. MRSA detection is better at approximately 3 days (50%-55%) or 7 days (56%) after contact has been broken than day 0 (30%). Polymerase chain reaction testing at day 3 performs similarly to culture at day 7. Nasal/rectal screening provides superior detection than nasal alone. Those exposed >48 hours are at significantly greater risk of colonization.
authors.affiliation: North York General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. wil.ng@nygh.on.ca
authors.forename: Wil
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Kalpana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Nurun
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Muhammed
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tomassi
authors.forename: Kevin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Katz
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology; D010362:Patients' Rooms; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012007:Rectum / Q000382:microbiology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D013997:Time Factors