Airborne Dispersal as a Novel Transmission Route of Coagulase-Negatwe Staphylococci Interaction Between Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci and Rhinovirus Infection

Abstract

We believe this is the first demonstration that a viral pathogen in the upper airways can increase airborne dispersal of CoNS in nasal S. aureus carriers. Gowns, gloves, and caps had a protective effect, whereas wearing a mask did not further reduce airborne spread.

Super-spreaders in infectious diseases

“…47 The observation that sterile clothing, but not a sterile mask, often reduces S. aureus airborne dispersal in rhinovirus-infected individuals, pointed towards a possible initial effect that rhinoviruses exert locally, followed by the subsequent colonization of the skin and clothing, which could serve as reservoirs and subsequently amplify the airborne dissemination of staphylococci. 48,49 Bischoff et al proposed that sneezing contributes to pathogen dispersal, and several groups of individuals, including those with respiratory allergies, could thus become potential sources of airborne bacteria. 50 Two major questions surrounding super-spreaders persist as important gaps in our knowledge, and the answers have fundamental public health implications.…”

The dynamics and interactions of respiratory pathogen carriage among French pilgrims during the 2018 Hajj

“…Furthermore, an independent positive mutual association between the carriage of the two pathogens was evidenced in our multivariate model. Several studies revealed a positive interaction between natural or experimental rhinovirus infection and S. aureus nasal carriers [31][32][33][34][35]. These studies also underlined that rhinovirus infection may facilitate the propagation of S. aureus from staphylococcal carriers to the environment and the transmission of the bacterium between humans.…”

Characterization of coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from hospital indoor air and a comparative analysis between airborne and inpatient isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis

“…Recently, it was demonstrated that sneezing and the common cold caused by rhinovirus contributed to the risk of cross-infection by airborne transmission of both S. aureus and CoNS. Thus, it was suggested that this route should be taken into consideration in investigations of outbreaks (Bischoff et al, 2004(Bischoff et al, , 2006. Therefore, additional studies are required to establish the precise role of indoor air transmission in the hospital spread of multiresistant CoNS isolates and in the maintenance of possible endemic strains.…”

“…The importance of indoor air and hospital surfaces as reservoirs of bacterial pathogens and their role in the transmission of nosocomial diseases have not been clearly documented in the scientific literature so far (Hota, 2004;Clark & de Calcina-Goff, 2009). Despite this, recent data have implicated indoor air as a route of transmission for multiresistant bacteria in hospitals (Bischoff et al, 2004(Bischoff et al, , 2006. In the present study, the species distribution, antimicrobial susceptibility and ability to form biofilms were determined for CoNS isolates collected from indoor air at a general public hospital.…”