Risk Factors for Infection and Colonization with Community‐Associated Methicillin‐ResistantStaphylococcus aureusin the Los Angeles County Jail: A Case‐Control Study

Abstract

We identified several risks for MRSA infection in male inmates, many of which reflected preincarceration factors, such as previous skin infection and lower educational level. Some mutable factors, such as showering frequency, knowledge about Staph, and soap sharing, may be targets for intervention to prevent infection in this vulnerable population.

Cross Sectional Study of Skin Carriage and Enterotoxigenicity of Staphylococcus aureus among Food Handlers

“…It was reported that variables such as the type of soap used, bathing and shaving frequency and use of deodorant had no effect on S. aureus skin carriage in the armpits of investigated individuals [20]. In another study on staphylococcal carriage in correctional facilities as jails and prisons, factors associated with MRSA skin harbour were multiple of which antibiotic use in the previous year and lower rate of showering were significant factors influencing skin carriage [27]. The view that hand washing insignificantly affected staphylococcal skin carriage was opposed in a Chilean study which demonstrated that washing hands and skin surfaces has minimal effect on reducing S. aureus cell numbers on humans, largely because S. aureus is part of the resident flora of skin [17].…”

Hand and Nasal Carriage of Discordant Staphylococcus aureus Isolates among Urban Jail Detainees

“…Asymptomatic nasal MRSA carriage, a risk factor for clinical infection (15), occurs in 2.7% to 15.8% of U.S. detainees (5,(16)(17)(18), but the nares may not be the primary anatomic site of carriage of CA-MRSA strains (19,20). In the health care setting, MRSA is transmitted from patient to patient via the hands of health care workers (21,22), but it is not known if hand carriage plays a similar role in the community.…”

Molecular Characterization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Clinical Isolates Obtained from the Rikers Island Jail System from 2009 to 2013

“…Notably, a MRSA outbreak in 2002 at the Los Angeles County Jail involved 928 inmates (6). We recently reported that the prevalence of MRSA colonization among inmates entering two New York State (NYS) prisons was 10.6% for females and 5.9% for males, far higher than the prevalence of 0.5% to 1.5% reported for the general population (5,11).…”

“…These infections have been especially frequent in certain high-risk groups such as military recruits, prison and jail inmates, athletes, and children in daycare (reviewed in reference 1). Common risk factors associated with CA-MRSA include sharing of personal items, superficial abrasions, crowding, limited access to showers, and exposure to others with MRSA infections (3)(4)(5)(6).…”

“…Outbreaks of CA-MRSA in jails have occurred in different geographic regions of the United States (6,10). Notably, a MRSA outbreak in 2002 at the Los Angeles County Jail involved 928 inmates (6).…”