title: Staphylococcus aureus--a cross sectional study of prevalence and risk factors in one general practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infection control and antibiotic resistant organisms are a community health concern. This article presents findings of a cross sectional study of 100 users of the Thirroul Medical Practice clinical treatment room, in Thirroul, New South Wales.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nasal Staphylococcus aureus colonisation rates and risk factors were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-six percent of participants (n=26) were found to have S. aureus; 11.5% (n=3) of cases were community acquired methicillin resistant S. aureus. Methicillin resistant S. aureus was significantly correlated with older age (p=0.02) and skin infection within the preceding year (p=0.03). Clinical staff (n=15) had low rates of S. aureus at 6.6% (n=1) and no methicillin resistant S. aureus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, S. aureus rates were unremarkable, but methicillin resistant S. aureus rates were higher than elsewhere with older patients most at risk. General practice staff developing infection control strategies should consider the vulnerable nature and cross-contamination risks in this group of patients. Encouragingly, clinical staff showed low levels of S. aureus and no methicillin resistant S. aureus.
authors.affiliation: Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital, Nowra, New South Wales. rw772@uowmail.edu.au.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Warren
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002353:Carrier State / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000382:microbiology*; D009517:New South Wales; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult