title: Differences in prevalence of community-associated MRSA and MSSA among U.S. and non-U.S. born populations in six New York Community Health Centers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause of Skin and Soft Tissue Infections (SSTIs) in the community in the United States of America. Community Health Centers (CHC) serve as primary care providers for thousands of immigrants in New York.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of a research collaborative, 6 New York City-area CHCs recruited patients with SSTIs. Characterization was performed in all S. aureus isolates from wounds and nasal swabs collected from patients. Statistical analysis examined the differences in wound and nasal cultures among immigrant compared to native-born patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Wound and nasal specimens were recovered from 129 patients and tested for antibiotic susceptibility. 40 patients were immigrants from 15 different countries. Although not statistically significant, immigrants had lower rates of MRSA infections (n = 15) than did native-born participants, and immigrants showed significantly higher rates of MSSA wound cultures (n = 11) (OR = 3.5, 95% CI: 1.3, 9.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study, immigrants were more likely to present with SSTIs caused by MSSA than US-born patients. Immigants also reported lower frequencies of antibiotic prescription or consumption in the months prior to SSTI infection. This suggests that antibiotic resistance may vary regionally and that immigrants presenting with SSTIs may benefit from a broader range of antibiotics.
authors: Clinical Directors Network, Inc (CDN), 5 West 37th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018, USA; Hudson River HealthCare, 1037 Main Street, Peekskill, NY 10566, USA. Electronic address: njenks@HRHCARE.ORG.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Piper Jenks
authors: Laboratory of Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA. Electronic address: mpardos@rockefeller.edu.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Pardos de la Gandara
authors: Clinical Directors Network, Inc (CDN), 5 West 37th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018, USA. Electronic address: bdorazio@CDNetwork.org.
authors: B M
authors: BM
authors: D'Orazio
authors: Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA. Electronic address: jcorreadar@mail.rockefeller.edu.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Correa da Rosa
authors: Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA. Electronic address: kostr@rockefeller.edu.
authors: R G
authors: RG
authors: Kost
authors: Clinical Directors Network, Inc (CDN), 5 West 37th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018, USA. Electronic address: ckhalida@CDNetwork.org.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Khalida
authors: Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA. Electronic address: kvasquez@rockefeller.edu.
authors: K S
authors: KS
authors: Vasquez
authors: Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA. Electronic address: cameron@rockefeller.edu.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Coffran
authors: Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA. Electronic address: minapastagia@yahoo.com.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Pastagia
authors: Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA. Electronic address: tevering@adarc.org.
authors: T H
authors: TH
authors: Evering
authors: Urban Health Plan, Inc., 1065 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10459, USA. Electronic address: Claude.Parola@urbanhealthplan.org.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Parola
authors: Urban Health Plan, Inc., 1065 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10459, USA. Electronic address: Tracie.Urban@urbanhealthplan.org.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Urban
authors: Urban Health Plan, Inc., 1065 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10459, USA. Electronic address: Salvatsc@gmail.com.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Salvato
authors: Urban Health Plan, Inc., 1065 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10459, USA. Electronic address: Franco.Barsanti@urbanhealthplan.org.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Barsanti
authors: Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA. Electronic address: collerb@rockefeller.edu.
authors: B S
authors: BS
authors: Coller
authors: Clinical Directors Network, Inc (CDN), 5 West 37th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018, USA; Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA. Electronic address: JNTobin@CDNetwork.org.
authors: J N
authors: JN
authors: Tobin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003151:Community Health Centers; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008712:Methicillin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D009666:Nose / Q000382:microbiology; D015995:Prevalence; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D008712:Methicillin
keywords: Antibiotic resistance; Foreign born; Practice-based Research Network (PBRN); Skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI); Staphylococcus aureus