High prevalence of colonization with Staphylococcus aureus clone USA300 at multiple body sites among sexually transmitted disease clinic patients: an unrecognized reservoir.
Extranasal colonization is increasingly recognized as an important reservoir for Staphylococcus aureus among high-risk populations. We conducted a cross-sectional study of multiple body site colonization among 173 randomly selected STD clinic patients in Baltimore, Maryland. Staphylococcal carriage at extranasal sites, including the oropharynx, groin, rectum, and genitals, was common among study subjects. The USA300 clone was particularly associated with multiple sites of colonization compared with non-USA300 strains (p = .01). Given their high burden of multi-site colonization and confluence of established staphylococcal risk factors, STD clinic patients may represent a community-based reservoir for S. aureus and be well suited for innovative infection control initiatives.
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA. bm2266@columbia.edu
Benjamin A
BA
Miko
Anne-Catrin
AC
Uhlemann
Amanda
A
Gelman
Caroline J
CJ
Lee
Cory A
CA
Hafer
Sean B
SB
Sullivan
Qiuhu
Q
Shi
Maureen
M
Miller
Jonathan
J
Zenilman
Franklin D
FD
Lowy
D000328:Adult; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005835:Genitalia / Q000382:microbiology; D005838:Genotype; D006119:Groin / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015995:Prevalence; D012007:Rectum / Q000382:microbiology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology