Are the risk factors associated with Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage in patients the same than in healthy volunteers? Data from a cohort of patients scheduled for orthopedic material implantation.

The risk factors for Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage have been mainly defined in healthy volunteers. Using data from a large multicenter prospective clinical cohort of orthopedic surgical patients we showed that obesity (BMI > 30) and younger age were independent risk factors for persistent carriage. In the absence of recommendations for S aureus decolonization in orthopedic surgery, this study suggests that at least obese patients should be targeted to prevent surgical site infections.