OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) carriage and infection among children living in an Indigenous community in Queensland. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Swabs for culture of S. aureus were collected from the nose, throat and skin wounds of primary school children. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: MRSA carriage, antibiotic sensitivity, genotype, and presence of the virulence factor Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL); and epidemiological risk factors for MRSA carriage. RESULTS: 92 (59%) of 157 eligible children were included in the study. Twenty-seven (29%) carried S. aureus; 14 of these (15% of total) carried MRSA. MRSA was isolated from 29% of wound swabs, 8% of nose swabs, and 1% of throat swabs. Fourteen of 15 MRSA isolates were sensitive to all non-beta-lactam antibiotics tested. Eight children (9%) carried CA-MRSA clonal types: six carried the Queensland clone (ST93), and two carried the South West Pacific clone (ST30). All these isolates carried the virulence factor PVL. The remaining six children carried a hospital-associated MRSA strain (ST5), negative for PVL. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified a high prevalence of CA-MRSA carriage in school children from a Queensland Indigenous community. In this setting, antibiotics with activity against CA-MRSA should be considered for empiric therapy of suspected staphylococcal infection. Larger community-based studies are needed to improve our understanding of the epidemiology of CA-MRSA, and to assist in the development of therapeutic guidelines for this important infection.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) carriage and infection among children living in an Indigenous community in Queensland. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Swabs for culture of S. aureus were collected from the nose, throat and skin wounds of primary school children. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: MRSA carriage, antibiotic sensitivity, genotype, and presence of the virulence factor Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL); and epidemiological risk factors for MRSA carriage. RESULTS: 92 (59%) of 157 eligible children were included in the study. Twenty-seven (29%) carried S. aureus; 14 of these (15% of total) carried MRSA. MRSA was isolated from 29% of wound swabs, 8% of nose swabs, and 1% of throat swabs. Fourteen of 15 MRSA isolates were sensitive to all non-beta-lactam antibiotics tested. Eight children (9%) carried CA-MRSA clonal types: six carried the Queensland clone (ST93), and two carried the South West Pacific clone (ST30). All these isolates carried the virulence factor PVL. The remaining six children carried a hospital-associated MRSA strain (ST5), negative for PVL. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified a high prevalence of CA-MRSA carriage in school children from a Queensland Indigenous community. In this setting, antibiotics with activity against CA-MRSA should be considered for empiric therapy of suspected staphylococcal infection. Larger community-based studies are needed to improve our understanding of the epidemiology of CA-MRSA, and to assist in the development of therapeutic guidelines for this important infection.
Authors: Mari M Nakamura; Alexander J McAdam; Thomas J Sandora; Katharina R Moreira; Grace M Lee Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2010-06-23 Impact factor: 5.948
Authors: G R Nimmo; J M Schooneveldt; J L Sutherland; S Power; D Olesen; C Selvey; F Beard; M Jones; D L Paterson Journal: Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis Date: 2010-06-18 Impact factor: 3.267
Authors: P C Valery; M Wenitong; V Clements; M Sheel; D McMillan; J Stirling; K S Sriprakash; M Batzloff; R Vohra; J S McCarthy Journal: Epidemiol Infect Date: 2007-10-24 Impact factor: 2.451
Authors: F G O'Brien; G W Coombs; J W Pearman; M Gracey; F Moss; K J Christiansen; W B Grubb Journal: J Antimicrob Chemother Date: 2009-08-27 Impact factor: 5.790