title: Colonisation with Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes in New Zealand preschool children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe colonisation patterns of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Streptococcus pyogenes (S. pyogenes) among pre-school children in New Zealand.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anterior nasal, oropharyngeal, and antecubital fossa swabs were collected from a diverse sample of 139 New Zealand children aged 4 years. Swabs were cultured for S. aureus and S. pyogenes. S. aureus isolates were tested for antibiotic susceptibility.
  
  
  RESULTS
  S. aureus colonisation was more prevalent than S. pyogenes colonisation; 54% of the children were colonised with S. aureus whereas only 16% were colonised with S. pyogenes, at one or more sampling sites (P<0.0001). S. aureus was present in a larger proportion of swabs obtained from the anterior nasal (39%, P<0.0001) or oropharynx (32%, P=0.0002) than from the antecubital fossa (14%). S. pyogenes was present in a larger proportion of swabs obtained from the oropharynx (16%) than either the anterior nasal (4%, P=0.001) or the antecubital fossa (2%, P<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  S. aureus and S. pyogenes are prevalent at superficial sites in preschool children in NZ, with S. aureus colonisation more prevalent than S. pyogenes colonisation. Colonisation frequency varies by site for both pathogens; S. aureus is more prevalent in the anterior nares and oropharynx while S. pyogenes is more prevalent in the oropharynx.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.forename: Polly
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Atatoa Carr
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.forename: Arlo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Upton
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.affiliation: Growing Up in New Zealand, PO Box 18288, Glen Innes, Auckland 1743, New Zealand. cc.grant@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Cameron
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grant
mesh_terms: D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D046508:Culture Techniques; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000382:microbiology*; D009520:New Zealand; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification*