PURPOSE: Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of invasive infections, yet most assessments of prevalence are based on health care-based samples. We computed population-based estimates of nasal carriage of S aureus and risk factors for carriage, as well as population-based estimates of nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA). METHODS: We used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2002 to estimate carriage of S aureus and MRSA for the non-institutionalized US population including children and adults. RESULTS: An estimated 86.9 million persons (32.40% of the population) were colonized with S aureus. The prevalence of MRSA among S aureus isolates was 2.58%, for an estimated population carriage of MRSA of 0.84% or 2.2 million persons. Among individuals with S aureus isolates, individuals aged 65 years or older had the highest MRSA prevalence (8.28%). Among all the racial/ethnic groups studied, Hispanics had the highest prevalence of colonization with S aureus but, when colonized, were less likely to have MRSA. CONCLUSIONS: This first nationally representative assessment of carriage of S aureus indicates that nearly one third of the population is currently colonized by this organism. Although the prevalence of MRSA remains low, more than 2.2 million people carry this resistant organism; thus, vigilance in promoting appropriate microbial transmission protocols should remain a priority.
PURPOSE:Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of invasive infections, yet most assessments of prevalence are based on health care-based samples. We computed population-based estimates of nasal carriage of S aureus and risk factors for carriage, as well as population-based estimates of nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA). METHODS: We used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2002 to estimate carriage of S aureus and MRSA for the non-institutionalized US population including children and adults. RESULTS: An estimated 86.9 million persons (32.40% of the population) were colonized with S aureus. The prevalence of MRSA among S aureus isolates was 2.58%, for an estimated population carriage of MRSA of 0.84% or 2.2 million persons. Among individuals with S aureus isolates, individuals aged 65 years or older had the highest MRSA prevalence (8.28%). Among all the racial/ethnic groups studied, Hispanics had the highest prevalence of colonization with S aureus but, when colonized, were less likely to have MRSA. CONCLUSIONS: This first nationally representative assessment of carriage of S aureus indicates that nearly one third of the population is currently colonized by this organism. Although the prevalence of MRSA remains low, more than 2.2 million people carry this resistant organism; thus, vigilance in promoting appropriate microbial transmission protocols should remain a priority.
Authors: Clarence B Creech; Douglas S Kernodle; Andrew Alsentzer; Cynthia Wilson; Kathryn M Edwards Journal: Pediatr Infect Dis J Date: 2005-07 Impact factor: 2.129
Authors: B C Herold; L C Immergluck; M C Maranan; D S Lauderdale; R E Gaskin; S Boyle-Vavra; C D Leitch; R S Daum Journal: JAMA Date: 1998-02-25 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Matthew J Kuehnert; Holly A Hill; Benjamin A Kupronis; Jerome I Tokars; Steven L Solomon; Daniel B Jernigan Journal: Emerg Infect Dis Date: 2005-06 Impact factor: 6.883
Authors: K Ben Slama; H Gharsa; N Klibi; A Jouini; C Lozano; E Gómez-Sanz; M Zarazaga; A Boudabous; C Torres Journal: Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis Date: 2010-11-11 Impact factor: 3.267
Authors: Tom A Szakacs; Baldwin Toye; Jeffrey M Turnbull; Wendy Muckle; Virginia R Roth Journal: Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol Date: 2007-07 Impact factor: 2.471
Authors: B Quintero; M Araque; C van der Gaast-de Jongh; F Escalona; M Correa; S Morillo-Puente; S Vielma; P W M Hermans Journal: Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis Date: 2010-08-30 Impact factor: 3.267