title: Persistent nasal carriers of Acinetobacter baumannii in long-term-care facilities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acinetobacter baumannii and Staphylococcus aureus have persisted as 2 major pathogens worldwide.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We designed a prevalence study to investigate the prevalence of nasal carriage of S aureus and A baumannii in long-term-care facilities (LCTFs) and their collaborative community hospitals. In addition, we aimed to clarify persistent or nonpersistent carriage of the 2 organisms among residents of LTCFs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a prevalence study concerning nasal carriers of A baumannii and S aureus in 3 LTCFs and 1 collaborative community hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy subjects were enrolled and clustered into 3 groups: the elderly sick group (n = 24), the elderly healthy group (n = 33), and the healthy health care worker group (n = 13). Nasal samples were collected, and the nuc and mecA genes of S aureus and the blaOXAgene of A baumannii were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. Among the 3 groups, the rate of nasal carriage of S aureus was approximately 0%-15%. However, the rate for A baumannii was approximately 54%-92%. Notably, the persistent carrier rate of A baumannii in the elderly sick group was 83.3% (20 out of 24) despite a 12.5% (3 out of 24) rate of carbapenem-resistant A baumannii.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We emphasized that the persistent nasal carriage of A baumannii in LTCFs could be another portal of exit to cause A baumannii infection in Taiwan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Yuanpei University, Hsin-Chu City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Li
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Liou
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, Providence University, Taichung City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuan-Hsueh
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Yuanpei University, Hsin-Chu City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hui-Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Nantou Christian Hospital, Nantou City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua City, Taiwan; Center for Infectious Diseases Research, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua City, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, College of Medicine & Nursing, Hung Kuang University, Taichung City, Taiwan. Electronic address: chenchanghuachad@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chang-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000151:Acinetobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D040981:Acinetobacter baumannii / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000382:microbiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Carrier state; Community hospitals; Staphylococcus aureus