title: Extranasal Staphylococcus aureus colonization predisposes to bloodstream infections in patients on hemodialysis with noncuffed internal jugular vein catheters.
abstract: Staphylococcal infection of endogenous origin is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients who receive hemodialysis (HD). The risk of such infections in nasal carriers of the organism is well defined. Extranasal carriage of the organism at extranasal sites may pose similar risks.
  
  
  
  A total of 70 patients about to undergo internal jugular vein catheterization for HD were enrolled in this prospective observational study. Swab cultures were obtained from anterior nares, posterior pharynx, axillae, toe web spaces, and vascular access sites at baseline and 1 week later. A patient was defined as a persistent carrier when the same organism was grown in both samples. Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections were assessed by blood and catheter tip cultures over a 90-day period.
  
  
  
  The mean age of the patients was 43.71 ± 16.2 years. Persistent S. aureus carriage at anterior nares, throat, axilla, toe web spaces, vascular access site, and all sites was documented in 27.9%, 11.4%, 40%, 32.9%, 4.3%, and 64.2% of patients, respectively. Fifteen patients developed S. aureus infections. Catheter related S. aureus infections (CRI) were more likely in persistent carriers than nonpersistent carriers with odds ratios (95% CI) of 10.2 (2.8-37.1), 8.6 (1.7-42.2), 17.3 (3.4-86.0), 3.0 (0.9-9.8), and 1.9 (0.2-22.4) for anterior nares, throat, axilla, toe web spaces, and vascular access site carriers, respectively. The probability of developing CRI in persistent S. aureus carriers was 55% compared to none in noncarriers at 90 days (P = 0.04).
  
  
  
  Extranasal S. aureus carriage is as significant a risk factor as nasal carriage for staphylococcal infections in patients on HD through catheters. The study is limited by lack of molecular phenotyping.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Anand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Devraj
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Venkata
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Siva Tez Pinnamaneni
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Manisha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biswal
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors.forename: Raja
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramachandran
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.|George Institute for Global Health, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Vivekanand
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: HD; S. aureus; colonization; extranasal; nasal