Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy as an unrecognized source of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) caused colonization or infection around the gastrostomy site of seven hospitalized patients, five of whom were in the long-term care unit. All cultures of gastrostomy sites were retrospectively reviewed, and 28% had MRSA. The gastrostomy site was responsible for 6.3% of all MRSA cultures, and 12.5% of all MRSA-positive patients with gastrostomy site cultures had involvement at that site. The implications of MRSA and gastrostomy tubes are discussed.